Siena

In south of Florence, this picturesque, well-preserved medieval town lies in the Tuscany region, a better competitor with Florence for much of its history, Siena is 35 mi/55 km south of Florence, a treasure trove of art, pageantry and architecture. Visit the wonderful black-and-white Gothic cathedral and tour the Palazzo Pubblico. You can climb the Torre del Mangia for a nice view over the city. Don't miss the magnificent Bernini statue of Mary Magdalene hidden away in a niche or the dazzling mosaics on the floor. The world-famous Palio horse race which is most popular in the beginning of July or in the middle of August. A tradition dating from the Renaissance, it takes place in the Piazza del Campo, a marvelous, sloping plaza in the shape of a half-shell whose circumference is topped on race day with a layer of dirt to create a track. Bright costumes, crowds, parades and the horse races themselves make for a fascinating spectacle. To enjoy the race, get there early and bring food, lots of water and some protection from the sun. The crowds will be tremendous and the conditions cramped, but in our opinion, the race is worth it. The weeks leading up to the Palio are also full of parades and feasts in the contrade that sponsor the race and which sport their own heraldic mascots.