Siena

Siena (ancient Saena Julia), city in central Italy, capital of Siena Province, in Tuscany Region. Siena has retained much of its medieval architecture, including walls and gates that surround the city. Siena is a tourist centre and a market for the wine and marble produced in the area. Manufactured goods include chemicals, fertilizers, and textiles. Terra (or raw) sienna, used as a pigment in paints, is also produced locally. The cathedral (11th-14th century) is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. The Gothic-style municipal palace, begun in 1288 and finished in 1309, contains numerous paintings by Sienese artists such as Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Among the city's noteworthy public institutions is the University of Siena (1240), with faculties of medicine and law. An ancient Roman town, Siena became an independent commune in the 12th century. In the 16th century the city was subjugated by its rival, Florence. The historic centre of Siena was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and the landscape of the nearby Val d’Orcia was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004. Population 52,625 (2001).