Piazza del Mercato, Siena

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 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 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.

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 Corteo Storico is a historical costume parade in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. It takes place before the famous horse race known as the Palio on the 2nd of July and on August 16, each year.

The Palio di Siena (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaːljo di ˈsjɛːna]; known locally simply as Il Palio), from Latin pallium, plural form: Palii, is a horse race that is held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards. The Palio held on 2 July is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia area of the city. The Palio held on 16 August is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. Sometimes, in case of exceptional events or local or national anniversaries deemed relevant and pertinent ones, the city community may decide for an extraordinary Palio, run between May and September. The last two were on 9 September 2000, to celebrate the city entering the new millennium and on 20 October 1918, in commemoration of the end of the Great War. The Corteo Storico, a pageant to the sound of the March of the Palio, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. The race is run for three laps of the piazza and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed, it is not unusual to see riderless horses finishing the race.

The Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) is a palace in Siena, Tuscany, central Italy. Construction began in 1297 to serve as the seat of the Republic of Siena's government, which consisted of the Podestà and Council of Nine, the elected officials who performed executive functions (and judicial ones in secular matters).

Piazza del Campo is the main public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany, Italy and is regarded as one of Europe's greatest medieval squares. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia, as well as various palazzi signorili surround the shell-shaped piazza. At the northwest edge is the Fonte Gaia. The twice-a-year horse-race, Palio di Siena, is held around the edges of the piazza. The piazza is also the finish of the annual road cycling race Strade Bianche.

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 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 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.

La Fontana di Pantaneto, now known as the Fontana del Leocorno is a public monumental fountain located on Via Pantaneto in Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. The fountain is located across from Via Pantaneto #19.