09 Nov

After countless steps up the tower of the Palazzo Pubblico, the site finally shifts from looking up through tight pathways enclosed by tall brick and stone buildings, to looking down onto the fabric of Siena. From this view, the defensive characteristics that dominate this medieval city become prominent. Clusters of buildings separated by narrow streets stand out amongst the landscape. Curvilinear roads seem to wrap the city and extend outwards from the historic center. This idea of a protective barrier repeats itself within the group of buildings. Instead of courtyards, buildings enclose castellares, which are small open areas that could be closed off to seclude locals from outside attacks. The use of similar gates that channel people into the town is also present at a larger scale along the perimeters of the historic center. In this sense Siena becomes a unique city of layered barriers.