Today is the feast day of St Ansanus the Baptiser, Patron saint of Siena. 10 facts about Siena.
Siena is a city in central Italy, in the Tuscany region. It lies about 30 miles (48 km) south of Florence. It was built on three hills connected by three major streets forming a Y-shape. Where they intersect is where the piazza del campo is now.
According to legend Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, sons of Remus, one of the twins suckled by a wolf who went on to found Rome. Twins being suckled by a wolf is therefore a symbol of Siena as well as Rome. The symbolic colours of Siena are Black and White, representing the colours of the Horses the founders rode.
It was historically an important banking city, until Florence stole its crown in the 13th–14th century. Cosimo I de Medici introduced strict anti-banking laws into the city, which wouldn’t have helped. Nevertheless, Siena is home to the oldest bank in the world, the Monte dei Paschi bank, which has been operating continuously since 1472.
Siena changed hands fairly frequently. Its rulers included the Visconti family, Charles V and the Medici family.
Siena is divided into 17 neighbourhoods, known as 17 Contrade, which were originally formed as battalions for the city's defence. Each one has a flag and a symbol: Aquila (Eagle); Bruco (Caterpillar); Chiocciola (Snail); Civetta (Little Owl); Drago (Dragon); Giraffa (Giraffe); Istrice (Crested Porcupine); Leocorno (Unicorn); Lupa (She-Wolf); Nicchio (Seashell); Oca (Goose); Onda (Wave); Pantera (Panther); Selva (Forest); Tartuca (Tortoise); Torre (Tower); and Valdimontone (Ram). Every Contrada jealously guards its treasures and its memories, so each district has its own museum.
Residents’ loyalty to their Contrada is fierce, especially at the time of Il Palio, a famous horse race which takes place in the city every year on 2 July and 16 August. There are ten horses taking part, each one representing one of the neighbourhoods. These will be the seven contrade which didn’t take part last time, and three more chosen by lots. The prize is that the contrada represented by the winner gets to rule the city for the year. The race lasts about 90 seconds and is by all accounts a bit of a free for all as riders do whatever they have to in order to win, including unseating their rivals. The most successful ward is Oca, the Goose, which has won 63 races, followed by Chiocciola, the Snail, with 51, and Tartuca, the Tortoise, with 46.
The cathedral was never finished. The building there now was originally only the transept of the final project. The project was abandoned because of the plague and architectural problems.
The heart of Siena is the Piazza del Campo, a large square in the shape of a shell. Some of the city’s best known landmarks are here, including Palazzo Pubblico, originally the seat of the government, now a museum, and the 102m high Torre del Mangia (Tower of the Eater), named for its first guardian, Giovanni di Balduccio, who was known to spend all his money on food. The tower has 400 steps and panoramic views from the top.
Siena is twinned with: Avignon, France; Concord, North Carolina, US; Weimar, Germany; and Wetzlar, Germany.
Siena has an intact and still working aqueduct that dates back to the Middle Ages. A 27 kilometer-long network of galleries was excavated to bring Water to the city Fonte Gaia, the monumental fountain sculpted by the Sienese artist Jacopo Della Quercia literally means “fount of Joy” because it finally allowed the population to get water in the main square.
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Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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