Palazzo Pubblico

This is most visitors' first view of Siena's Palazzo Pubblico, more thoroughly described in this shot. This view is looking down one of the streets feeding into the Piazza del Campo, the beautiful shell-shaped town square dominated by this building and its huge bell tower, the Torre del Mangia.

The flag on the right is that of the local contrade, or neighborhood. Siena's seventeen contrade have competed (ten at a time -- they draw lots) in a bareback horserace in this piazza twice every year since the late 1200s. It is the largest spectator event in Tuscany.

LENS: 28-70 at ~35mm | FILM: Fuji Provia 100F | EXPOSURE: f/5.6 at 1/?" | DATE: 10/03

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