Siena... And a thunderstorm ⚡️

So I made my way to train station and bought my ticket to Siena. It was an hour and a half journey but I knew it would be worth it. 

I arrived in Siena around 1pm and as you come out of the station you have to walk through a shopping centre and take the escalator several flights up. As you come out to the top I saw the bus stops so went into the tobacconists to buy a ticket and asked which bus would take me to the centre. I got on the bus after buying a cheap guidebook with a map and made my way to the centre. Whilst I was on the bus a Spanish girl who lived in London started talking to me and we ended up wandering through Siena together and having some lunch. 

When we arrived and first walked into Piazza del Campo it was breathtaking... The colour of the stone used to creat the square, the way the half moon sloped down towards the palazzo, it was gorgeous. 

In the middle of the square is Fonte Gaia. The colour of the water, coupled with the colour of the stones makes this fountain so bright.

I had no real plan for Siena as I knew it was really small, so the only thing I knew I was going to do, was wander. So wander I did, and this town has some of the most beautiful streets I have ever seen.

 

We stumbled across a school of music where you could hear someone playing the piano beautifully. It was a gorgeous courtyard with a wonderful wishing well in the middle.

We continued to wander and we headed towards the Duomo. It is in a similar design to the Duomo of Florence however although stunning cannot be compared. 

As we continued to wander we found a play park that had stunning views out over the hillside.

By this point I was officially starving so we went back to the Piazza del Campo and found a reasonable restaurant and had some food and wine. It was such a wonderful setting and the food was fabulous. 

We made our way back to the train station and said our goodbyes and I made my way back to Florence...

Which just happened to be in the middle of the BIGGEST thunderstorm I have ever seen in my life. Because Florence is in a valley once the storm gets in, it can't get out. As I came out the station, the clap of thunder was so loud everyone made a gasping noise and ducked... I ran through the rain with my umbrella and found a small restaurant near my bus stop and had an evening meal. I was so hungry again by this point. I washed some more pasta down with some white wine and then made my way back to the apartment. 

So tomorrow... As they say... All roads lead to Rome...