Siena
Above: Siena skyline, with Il Campo in the center and a glimpse of the Duomo on the right.
Siena, a small city of 60,000 people in Tuscany, has been called "the manageable Florence." Siena's many fans point out that it has all the good aspects of its more famous neighbor – the art, the architecture, the history, and the food – with less of the bad – heavy traffic, heavy tourism, and souvenir stands on every corner.
Siena was a bustling economic center by the 12th century, based on its textiles, saffron and wine. In the 14th century, it was the home of St. Catherine, an outspoken and politically active Dominican who experienced a "mystic marriage" with Christ and was one of the first women to be named a Doctor of the Church.
Today, Catholic pilgrims to Siena pray at the shrine of St. Catherine and receive mass in the Duomo, and all visitors enjoy the cafe-lined Il Campo, the abundant art and architecture of the city, and the imposing Church of San Domenico.
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