Piazza del Campo

Perhaps the most beautiful piazza in Italy

In a country teeming with gorgeous public squares, it is no small feat that Piazza del Campo is jaw-dropping even to the most seasoned traveler. Is it the gargantuan size? Is it the gently sloping sides? Is it the medieval architecture? At any rate, you'll find it all here - couples walking hand in hand, friends sunbathing on the square, children running around. Once upon a time, it was the civic and cultural center of the city, a marketplace situated near the meeting point of the three communities that largely formed Siena. Even now, it is the center of public life in Siena - 11 roads lead to the Piazza, making it practically unavoidable. The hugely popular horse race, Il Palio, occurs here twice in the summer, an orgy of color and sport to commemorate Italian religious holidays.