Episode 2: Florence in burnt Sien(n)a
After a day and night in the city center we opted to get out of town and go to an argitourismo hotel. The change meant that we did a long breakfast a late check out and had some hours to kill before we could check in again. I had Siena on my mind for quite some time as it was a Crayola crayon that has always been close to my heart. You see, I would use the dark brown crayon and color a bit of Burnt Sienna over it in order to achieve my representative color when I thought myself quite the artistic master.
For the day, I opted for a three-quarter sleeve dress (with pockets) from a Swiss band called Artgiano Asoni in a patterned cream and terracotta brown cotton. Not quite Burnt Sienna but close enough. Most importantly (to me anyway) was to have something light and breathable for a long day of uphill walking and modest enough to be respectful of our visit to the cathedral.
Witnessing the perfection that was the color in my box come to life through the architecture was singular and stunning. The walled city was massively impressive and sitting to have a cool drink in the shade to simply observe what was before us was a treat. My expectation of burnished golden brown everywhere was interrupted by the most breathtaking cathedral I have ever had the pleasure of visiting (and I’ve seen quite a few). Duomo di Siena was gothic in scale without being somehow overbearing. The marvelous religious works and library were out of this world, my favorite was the painting depicting Rebecca and Jacob and their deception of Issac. I spent some of my time sharing the bible stories which inspired those beautiful pictures with Mr. M (which he now prefers you know him by) and a few people gathered round to listen in discreetly as well.
The cathedral itself was dressed not in the theme of the town but rather chicly outfitted in black and white marble. Nothing can adequately describe each point of detail, but I will be hard pressed, I know, to ever see anything that compares such a marvelous cathedral. While I came to Siena prepared to celebrate all things and shades of brown, the epiphany was that really and truly black and white is the chicest color combination that has existed for eons and never gets old.
Next time on “Florence”… a swan dive into fashion from historical exhibits to meeting a wonderful accessories designer in shop.