Piazza del Campo, Siena

Il Campo is very big and unique from all other piazzas that we saw while in Italy. It seemed as though the entire city revolved around Il Campo. Every we ventured brought us back to Il Campo.

The history of Siena has been made on the Piazza del Campo, or better, 'il Campo', as the Sienese call it. Here the Sienese organised their spectacular and terrible 'games', later replaced by the Palio, where they celebrated and played games of risk (il Campo was the only place where the games were allowed). The market also used to take place here. Il Campo has witnessed the passage of memorable characters in the history of Siena: Santa Caterina, the mystic saint deeply linked to the image of Siena, and also artists such as Simone Martini or Jacopo della Quercia.

The atmosphere of the piazza is contagious. Everything was so open and friendly. The restaurants were wonderful and the cappacino especially good. I became an addict while in Italy. I am so looking forward to returning to this beautiful old place.