Lovely Siena

Some observations on Italian culture in Perugia: Maybe it’s just the younger generations here, but it seems to me that everyone is always “out” and about at night. I don’t think they sleep here! Piazza Novembre is always packed at night, even if the weather is bad. Raining? Foggy? (it always is) no problem. We’ll just bundle up and hang out in the piazza. Oh, and they start their nights late. Parties don’t even start here until midnight at the earliest, and usually really get going around 2. I can’t handle it! Too late for me!


Now, Siena:This weekend I visited Siena with Elyse, another girl from DePauw, to see a friend of mine (also goes to DePauw) who is studying abroad there. It was so much fun! Siena was just gorgeous, and we had really nice weather for it. I love the public transportation system here- you just hop on a bus, wait an hour and a half, and you’re in Tuscany. Love it! Going there, we didn’t get to see much of what was around us because we left Saturday evening around 5:30 and it gets dark about then. But, coming back Sunday afternoon, we got a good look at the countryside and it was just beautiful! I love Umbria (the region Perugia is in) but Tuscany definitely has a different sort of beauty. More rolling hills and those really tall trees you always see in calendar pictures. It was greener for some reason, which is nice. I keep expecting it to be nice weather all the time, but I need to keep in mind that it is winter here, same as it is at home! Except that it is a lot nicer and not as cold. J


So Siena- a lot like Perugia, city-wise. It’s got the same kind of winding cobblestone streets with red tile roofs, green shutters, laundry hanging out the windows, people walking around dressed incredibly well etc… but it had a different “feel” to it, and I almost liked it better. Siena is still a “big city” by Italian standards (about 70,000 people) but I thought it had a small-town feel, which I liked. Perugia is nice, but sometimes stresses me out with the crowds. Moments like that make me extra glad I didn’t pick a place like Florence or Rome to study abroad in- big cities are just not for me.



So we got off at the wrong bus stop in Siena but managed to find Dan just fine. I had never seen pictures of Siena’s main piazza, which they call “the campo,” so it was amazing to come upon it for the first time at night. It is huge and very unique- I have never seen an Italian piazza like this! It slopes downhill and focuses on a huge palace with a giant tower. It is shell shaped , red brick and people just come to sit outside on the campo and enjoy picnics, drinks, and company. It’s just great. I can’t imagine anyone not liking it.


Sunday morning, Dan was nice enough to give us a tour of the city. Wandering around was a lot of fun, and the main Duomo, basically in his backyard, was very pretty and again, unique.


I was amazed at how much this little city had to offer. Sometimes things in Italy get to be all the same (churches etc…) but Siena surprised me. It was also nice that Dan’s roommate is actually Italian, so he had a lot to offer discussion-wise about the city and life there in general.

We read in a travel book that this spot in the steps of the Duomo is where St. Catherine was apparently tripped by the devil. Since Elyse's middle name is Catherine, and Dan is diabolic to begin with, we re-enacted. Note the cross they have since added to the steps!

We also saw St. Catherine's shrunken head, which is housed in one of the churches and prominently displayed. I thought it was gross, Elyse thought it was neat. We'll agree to disagree. I don't personally understand the Catholic need for body parts to be considered holy relics etc... but if it helps someone in someway then I guess it's OK. I just don't get a kick out of seeing 100 year old body parts!

We tried a medieval dessert the other day in my Food and Culture class called panforte. It was delicious (probably why it’s still around) and it is hard to find in Perugia so I got some in Siena. It is incredibly overpriced but totally worth it. I got the margherita kind, with candied fruits and nuts etc.. in it, and also a chocolate kind. Mmmm yummy.

I think I'm going to Venice next weekend- 2 of my roomates went there this weekend and they loved it! Excited about it already, especially since it's going to be my last big trip before spring break and midterms. Time is just flying by, and since I haven't been doing much studying thus far.... I think I should maybe look at my books before I take the midterm tests. Don't worry mom- I'll be just fine.