Siena – Orienteering Race

It was Sunday morning.  We had been to mass and headed into the main Piazza when we saw some kind of foot race underway.  Lots…
Church of the Crucifix

Siena and Saint Catherine

The Saint Catherine of Siena parish in Kalamazoo, MI, is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a parish this year.  Fr. Robert Creagan, formerly of this…
Menu of the Day

Siena – Baptistery and More Street Scenes

Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of Saint John) was built between 1316 and 1325 by Camaino di Crescentino.  Recall from a post from Florence that…
Stained Glass Window of the Last Supper

Siena – Santa Maria Assunta Interior

We step inside the church to a grand space filled with beautiful art. Again, the pillars are alternating bands of black and white marble. The…
Santa Maria Assunta

Siena – Santa Maria Assunta

The Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Assunta (Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption) was originally designed and completed between 1215 and 1263 on the site…
Ceiling of Arch at Palazzo Chigi Saracini

Siena – Street Scenes 2

Continuing our walk through Siena, we come upon the Loggia della Mercanzia.   Loggia della Mercanzia ( Lodge of the Merchants), a meeting place for Siena’s…
Palazzo Pubblico

Siena – Street Scenes 1

We are moving on to Siena.  After a short drive from Florence, we arrived at our hotel, dropped our bags, and started off toward the…
View of Duomo Dome

Florence – Santa Croce and Street Scenes

I’ve got a few more photos from Florence before we leave town.  This is a collection of photos from Piazza di Santa Croce and from…
Palazzo Vecchio

Florence – Piazza della Signoria

Our tour continues to the Piazza della Signoria.  All descriptions of the buildings and statues below are from WikiPedia. Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) is the…
Battistero di San Giovanni

Florence – Battistero di San Giovanni

The Battistero di San Giovanni (The Baptistery of St. John) is another masterpiece in marble.   “In the early centuries of the Church, baptisteries were…