University of Siena

The Università per Stranieri di Siena is a university in Siena, in Tuscany in central Italy. It is one of the two Italian universities oriented towards study by foreign students (the other is the Università per Stranieri di Perugia in Perugia, in Umbria, established in 1921.

The Palazzo Piccolomini, also known as the Palazzo Todeschini Piccolomini is a Renaissance-style palace in the city of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located on the Banchi di Sotto, at the corner with Via Rinaldini; uphill and west of the church of San Martino, the Loggia del Papa, and the Palazzo delle Papesse, which also built by a Piccolomini family member.

The State Archives of Siena (Italian: Archivio di Stato di Siena) is the state institution responsible, by law, for the preservation of records from the offices of state bodies, as well as public bodies and private producers, in the province of Siena. It is located in the Palazzo Piccolomini in Siena. The archive was established by Grand duke Leopold II of Tuscany on 17 November 1858. It preserves approximately 60,000 parchment documents, resolutions and statutes of the Republic of Siena, correspondence and records of judicial and financial administrations, such as the Biccherna. The archives cover a time span from 736 to the 20th century.

The Castellare degli Ugurgieri is a medieval fortress-house or fortress-palace, erected by the prominent Sienese Ugurgieri family in the 13th century. It is located on an Via Francigena off Piazza Salimbeni, in central Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is behind the Palazzo Bandini Piccolomini. The courtyard is accessible and the building now houses the headquarters and museum of the Contrada della Civetta.It is part of the historical center of Siena, which is present in the UNESCO list.

Palazzo Sansedoni is a Gothic style urban palace and tower, whose concave facade is situated facing the Palazzo Pubblico across the Piazza del Campo in the political center of the city of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy.

San Vigilio is a Renaissance and Baroque style, Roman Catholic church located on Via San Vigilio, Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. The exterior has a sober classical facade, while the interior has rich Baroque decorations. The church is dedicated to the Bishop and martyr St Vigilius; it now serves as the chapel for the University of Siena. It stands across the street from the Castellare Ugurgieri, and down the street from the Palazzo Bandini Piccolomini found on the junction with Via Sallustio Bandini.

San Martino is a Roman Catholic church located on Via del Porrione, in the Terzo San Martino (named after this church) in central in Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. Adjacent to the church is the Renaissance style Logge del Papa erected in 1462 by commission by Pope Pius II Piccolomini.

The Palazzo Piccolomini-Clementini is a Gothic-style palace located on Via Banchi di Sotto #75 in the city of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located across the street from the more imposing Renaissance-style Palazzo Piccolomini and the Loggia del Papa. The nearby Palazzo delle Papesse was also built by a Piccolomini family member.

The Palazzo Bandini-Piccolomini is a Renaissance style urban palace located on via Sallustio Bandini #32, corner Via San Vigilio in the city of Siena, region of Tuscany. It is across the street from the rear facade of the Castellare degli Ugurghieri. The palace was constructed circa 1460, and the design has been attributed to Cecco di Giorgio. The priest and proto-economist Sallustio Bandini was born in the house. The facade is mainly brick. The portal and window mouldings are made of grey pietra serena and has a Piccolomini shield with 5 crescent moons. The portal also has images of children astride dolphins. The second story windows have triangular pediments. The small interior courtyard has a well. The iron rings on the facade were formerly used to tie up horses. The property is owned by the University of Siena.

The Torre del Mangia is a tower in Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy. Built in 1338-1348, it is located in the Piazza del Campo, Siena's main square, next to the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall). When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. At 102 m it is now Italy's second tallest after Cremona Cathedral's Torrazzo (112 m (367 ft)), the Asinelli tower in Bologna at 97 m being third.

The Siena synagogue is a notable, historic synagogue in Siena, Italy. A substantial Jewish community is recorded in Siena beginning in the 14th century. In 1571 the Medici restricted Jewish residence to a defined neighborhood, or ghetto, and it was in this neighborhood that a synagogue was built on the Vicole dell Scotte very close to the Piazza del Campo. The Jews were emancipated from the requirement of living in a ghetto in 1860. The present synagogue was erected in 1786 on the site of the older synagogue. Because Jews in that era were prohibited from building houses of worship identifiable from the street, the stone facade of the four story building is plain, resembling neighboring residential buildings. The sanctuary is located on the first floor (one flight up from street level). It has an elaborate neoclassical interior, with a lofty baroque ceiling featuring a large crowned tablet of the Ten Commandments enthroned in clouds of glory. Two tiers of balconies on the building's third and fourth stories have views into the room through elaborate baroque grills. Furniture is arranged in the historic style of the Italian Jewish community, with the bimah in the center of the room. The Torah Ark is a classical marble cabinet with marble pillars and entablature towering almost the height of the room.The architect was Giuseppe del Rosso of Florence, the master builders were Niccolo Ianda and Pietro Rossi.The synagogue is open to visitors.The historic Jewish cemetery of Siena also survives and is open to visitors.

The Loggia del Papa is a 15th-century Renaissance architecture, open-air arcade in Piazza of the same name in Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. The Loggia was erected by the Pope Pius II in honor of his family, whose Palazzo Piccolomini (delle Papesse) stands nearby on Banchi di Sotto, where it converts into Via di Pantaneto, that runs on the lower flank, to the left when facing the loggia. To the right is the baroque church of San Martino. The frieze reads Gentilibus suis Picolomineis (Family of Piccolomini). The design is attributed to Antonio Federighi. Construction began in 1462, and was completed within the year. The Via di Pantaneto flank of the loggia has a series of heraldic shields with the Piccolomini emblems, five supine crescent moons on a cross.