AT Europe: Siena, Italy -- This Is Why They Call It Sienna

If you remember nothing else after a visit to the Tuscan town of Siena, you remember the color...

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Historically made from a pigment derived from clay earth near its namesake city, sienna in its raw mustardy brownish-yellow or burnt reddish-brown orange state is the color of choice in this heavily touristed city, with its many brick buildings and medieval Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful public squares on earth.

Like salmon-colored Marrakesh, the single tone has a mesmerizing effect, by turns soothing and mildly claustrophobic. Like gray Paris, Siena's identity is linked with a dominant hue that gives it a singular character, offering a lesson in the effects of making bold color choices.

- Kristin Hohenadel blogging from rue Vieille du Temple, Paris, France. She can be reached at kristinh @ apartmenttherapy . com

Comments (11)

wouldn't mind being there RIGHT NOW!

posted by GZgoingMod aka Geraldine on August 29th 2007 at 11:45am
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LOVE LOVE LOVE Siena -- much more wonderful than overrated and overrun Florence!

posted by Mid-C Frank on August 29th 2007 at 12:02pm
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Dang, now I am so hungry.

posted by I Love Upstate on August 29th 2007 at 12:25pm
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@Frank - its not a competition tho' is it. They're close enough to enjoy both... (perhaps at a different time of year?) Do you really not like Florence?

Lovely photos - v true - and also interesting in the way they make me look up - whereas in Sienna I think I must look at the floor mostly.

posted by Lesley - London on August 29th 2007 at 12:28pm
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Lesley, I agree, I adore Florence, although it is crowded (and hot) during the busy summer months.

I very much enjoy Siena, and Lucca, as well.

Great photographs.

posted by kari-anne on August 29th 2007 at 2:54pm
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Kristin,
As always, beautiful photos and narration.

posted by J on August 29th 2007 at 5:03pm
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Mid-C Frank, you should see Arezzo, near 90 km from Siena... I love it much more than usual touristic Siena and Firenze!

arry

posted by arry on August 29th 2007 at 10:30pm
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I've lived for a year in Siena and I know I'll miss it forever! It's like living on a Fairytale. I've been inside several Senese palazzos and they're as charming as you see outside.

posted by Patchgirl on August 29th 2007 at 11:52pm
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Old stuff rules.

posted by Jon_B on August 30th 2007 at 4:10am
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Ditto Jon_B, ditto

posted by bobbin on August 30th 2007 at 4:31am
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I have nothing but great memories of the beauties of Siena. Not even the auto accident we had on our approach to the city has tarnished these memories. My favorite thing about Siena and other very old cities is the juxtaposition of the most contemporary of home goods in the store windows that are in these very old buildings.

posted by Mason on August 30th 2007 at 5:21am
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