The growing economic prosperity of 15th century Siena arose largely from its position as a major trading route located on the Via Francigena from Rome to Northern Europe. Increasing numbers of pilgrims requiring accommodation, and customs duties received on goods passing through the city provided large amounts of income both for traders within the city and the government.
The growing interest in the new Renaissance style, fostered by the patronage of Pius II, gave rise to a campaign of sculptural decoration and other artistic projects both for private and public consumption.
Siena's very special relationship with the Virgin Mary and her desire to perpetuate irts foundation myth demonstrated a respect for medieval art but also perhaps a desire to deliberately graft new artistic styles to the older tradition.
This course will trace the course of the emergence of this new style, examine the impact of private and public patronage and the proximity of Siena to Florence on the political and economic stability of the city.
The Duomo, Piccolomini Library, Baptistery, S.Maria della Scala, Renaissance Palaces, the Palazzo Pubblico, The Campo, Fonte Gaia, Mercanzia Loggia, Pinacoteca
Siena is very hilly so be prepared for quite a lot of energetic walking!
It would be a good idea to bring a torch and some binoculars since some churches/monuments are very dark and often inaccessible. Be prepared also for cold, wet weather.
Links to airlines flying to Florence
- Meridiana
Despite the city's lack of distinguished Roman antecedents, Siena's rulers in the Middle Ages, anxious to increase the city's prestige, adopted the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus as an emblem of the city. Siena owed its importance to its location on the Via Francigena, the pilgrim route from France to Rome.
In the 12th century the commercial classes started to curb the power of the magnates and bishops through the founding of a Commune, which soon adopted a policy of territorial expansion. Political and commercial rivalry resulted in continuing conflict with Florence, while the deep-rooted involvement of the Commune in daily life is well illustrated by a statute of 1248 'concerning hair, which men are wearing too long; it must be cut so that at least some of their neck is visible from the back'.
The Sienese supported the Ghibelline (imperial) cause and at Montaperti in 1260 defeated the pro-papal Guelf forces of Florence; six years, fear of economic sanctions led them to switch their allegiance to the Pope. In 1287 the mercantile oligarchy (popolo grasso) replaced the Commune with a Council of Nine, who reached an accommodation with Florence in the interest of trade.
With the population devastated by the Black Death, the Council of Nine were overthrown in 1355. The wool-workers rose in revolt in 1371; in 1399, the city fell to Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Milan. After his death, Siena returned to a period of unrest which lasted throughout the 15th century.
