Day 12 – May 31, 2025 – Siena, Italy – DISCLAIMER – I used ChatGPT (love it!) to help with some of the picture comments as I could not remember everything we did/saw.
With nothing really planned except to do the panorama tour, we headed out about 10:15 am so that we could be there by 10:30 am. Anna said it’s best to get there right as they open as the crowds start pouring in by 11:30. We noticed on our walk there all of the tours being led through the city so we knew things would get congested soon.
We entered through the museum and decided to do the panorama view first then look at things on our way back down. They have to control how many people go up at a time, so we had a very short wait before we were allowed up. The views are wonderful!
We walked around for a while as John was navigating us to where we might want to eat for dinner tonight and then I noticed a place off the beaten path to go for lunch, Il Biondo. They had a nice shaded, quiet patio where we could just chill. I ordered a Greek salad (forgot the pic, but the presentation was beautiful!) and John had the lasagna, and we split them. That was some of the best lasagna I’ve ever had! We usually do not repeat places if we can help it but the food was great as well as the service so we made reservations to eat there for dinner. After lunch, we headed to the gelato place we were at yesterday (see, I told you, lol!) and then headed back to the BNB to catch up on a few things and chill before heading back out for dinner.
Our reservations were at 7:30 pm so we left about 7 and decided to walk around a little more. We arrived at the restaurant and most of the staff that was there at lunchtime were still there. At lunch, one of the staff suggested having fish and they have a display case with it all laid out. They get it fresh every morning. We went inside to look at the fish and the chef came out and between the two, they came up with a plan for us to share four different types of seafood. We also asked for some vegetables on the side as I feel as long as I have something green every day, it offsets the pasta and bread, lol! Our first dish was a creamy soup with pieces of fish in it that was so delicious! Our main dishes came out and they were awesome! We know one was gamberoni (shrimp), amberjack, and the other two fish we never heard of, and it was hard to understand his pronunciation of them. Regardless, it was grilled perfectly! They also brought out a bowl of sauteed spinach and a bowl of sauteed carrots, celery, and zucchini. They had the best flavors and John and I both agreed, it had to be the best meal we’ve had so far in Italy. We decided to pass on the desert since we had our gelato earlier, but the chef insisted on a little macron that was filled with fruit jam, and it was just enough! They also brought us a glass of limoncello to finish off the meal. Perfecto! After the meal, we even went back to the kitchen to thank the chef personally for such a wonderful meal. He was in the process of cutting off pieces of parmesan cheese that had been aged 18 months and gave us a piece. We left with very full, but happy bellies.
A 10-minutes stroll back to the BNB, and it was time to relax and call it a night. We have to be out of the BNB at 11, but our host said we could leave our luggage until it was time for him to take us to the train station, so it will be a relaxing morning. Looking forward to meeting up with Steve and Patty and then heading to Foiana della Chiana, where we will be for the whole month of June! Ciao!
The window depicts scenes from the Life of the Virgin, including the Coronation of the Virgin, Dormition, and Assumption, framed by vivid geometric borders and standing saints. Removed from the cathedral to preserve its fragile glass, it remains a treasured masterpiece of Sienese religious art.
The Virgin tenderly cradles the Christ Child, capturing a moment of serene intimacy, while the use of shallow relief and naturalistic detail reflects the evolving humanism of 15th-century sacred art. The piece exemplifies the deep Marian devotion of Siena’s religious
The central medallion shows the Madonna and Child, framed by dynamic figures and dramatic lighting, characteristic of the Baroque’s theatrical spiritual aesthetic. San Martino is a lesser-known gem in Siena, blending Renaissance architecture with opulent Baroque artistry.
The gate is made of brick and stone and features Siena’s emblem above the arch—part of the city’s impressive fortification system that still encircles much of the old town.
