Siena, Italy

Heather and I ventured to Sienna for a day trip.  We tried to ignore the pouring rain and temps hovering on freezing to hear about Florence's great rival.  The city divides into separate neighborhoods each named for a different animal.  The town square below hosts the Palio, a  traditional medieval horse race, twice a year.  Each neighborhood or "Contrade" is represented by a horse and jockey, and the winning Contrade boasts through the next year.

We stopped in Catherine of Sienna's church.  She actually worshipped and had her visions in this Basilica.  We viewed her skull and her finger through the glass.  Yes, they have her finger preserved.

We walked through back streets and alleyways learning about how people lived in this small city.

We tried Sienna's famous cakes, and walked through Sienna Cathedral, the most amazing one I have seen thus far.

On our last day in Florence, we meandered through the market buying oils and olive wood rolling pins.

I cannot wait to return.