Siena - Piazza del Campo

The oldest aristocratic families in Siena date their line to the Lombards' surrender in 774 to Charlemagne. At this point, Frankish overseers married into the existing Sienese nobility. Feudal power waned, however, and by the death of Countess Matilda in 1115 the border territory of the March of Tuscany which had been under the control of her family, the Canossa, broke up into several autonomous regions. This ultimately resulted in the creation of the Republic of Siena.

The Republic existed for over four hundred years, from the 12th century until 1555. In contrast to Florence, Siena was on the Ghibelline side in the dispute between the emperor and the papacy and thus received various privileges. Essentially, however, behind this conflict was an economic rivalry between the two trading cities. The Florentines were defeated at the Battle of Montaperti in 1260. During the golden age of Siena before the Black Death in 1348, the city was home to 50,000 people.

Unlike the Medici, who ruled in Florence, no family was able to establish a stable dynasty. In the War of 1551–59, the republic was defeated by Florence in alliance with the Spanish crown. In 1512 the city found itself under the protection of Charles V. The citizens rebelled against the tyranny of the Spaniards, but In 1555 Siena was taken after a long siege and two years later given as a fief to Cosimo I de Medici, under whom it became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The semi-circular "Piazza del Campo" where the horse race "Palio di Siena" is held twice. It's probably one of the toughest horse races in the world. Folk races had been popular since the 14th century and were held throughout the city. When bullfighting was banned in 1590, races were organized in the Piazza del Campo. The first modern Palio took place in 1633. The horses are assigned to the riders and ridden bareback. The race track is around a 300 m long circuit on the Piazza del Campo, which is circled three times. The race lasts less than two minutes. The horse that crosses the finish line first after the last lap is the winner. The jockey does not necessarily have to finish on horseback.