Siena, Capital Of The Italian Gothic Style Editorial Photo

Siena is the capital of the province of Siena and is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Tuscany and Italy. It has always been in rivalry with Florence, in political, economic or artistic terms. While Florence, as a prime example of a Renaissance city, impresses above all with the sheer mass and size of its buildings and works of art, Siena has retained the medieval character of the Italian Gothic. The historic old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The University of Siena, founded in 1240, is one of the oldest universities in Italy.Siena is also known for the Palio di Siena, a horse race held in the central piazza del Campo. In the race, which has been very important for Siena since the Middle Ages, ten of the 17 districts Contrade of the city compete twice a year.