Image via Wikipedia"Cor magis tibi Sena pandit" (Siena opens up a greater heart than this gate) is the sign that greets visitors at Camollia gate, one of the gateways to the historic centre of Siena. This cordial invitation is the business card of a city that needs no introduction.
Founded, according to a popular legend, by Remus, brother of the legendary founder of Rome, Romulus, Siena is an open-air museum. The severe palaces and steep alleys of the old town have remained the same since the middle ages when Siena was an independent republic. A large part of the cities ancient pride is still present in the temperament of its citizens, which is expressed fully on July the 2nd and August the 16th of each year during the famous Palio festival, perhaps the oldest and most authentic popular celebration in Italy. In the heart of the city is the magnificent shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, dominated by the high Torre del Mangia, considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe for architectural harmony and balance. However Siena also offers beautiful churches and museums in addition to the ability to surprise even the most hurried visitor with unforgettable views. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
