Siena: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval City

A comprehensive history and celebration of Siena, Italy, highlighting its republican past and its prosperous cultural heyday in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, despite a catastrophic decline in the late medieval period. Today, Siena is a well-preserved medieval city with world-class art and architecture, appealing traditions, and a heavenly landscape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

An in-depth, vividly illustrated history and a loving tribute to Siena, one of Italy's most beloved and visited cities. Siena, perched atop a hill in the midst of a vast, undulating landscape, draws both contemporary tourists and art enthusiasts to its shores, rivaling Florence in popularity. However, its proud republican past stands in stark contrast to its Medici-dominated northern Tuscan rival, with which it engaged in a fierce struggle for local supremacy throughout much of the High Middle Ages.

From the twelfth century, Siena capitalized on its strategic location along a major pilgrim route, emerging as a significant European power that remained an important center for commerce, finance, and the arts for four centuries. Jane Stevenson meticulously charts the shifting fortunes of a city that experienced an astonishing cultural heyday in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, faced a catastrophic decline in the aftermath of the Black Death, and yet managed to transcend the loss of its broader political influence to enjoy a prosperous civic afterlife.

Today, Siena holds a cherished position as a remarkably well-preserved medieval city, brimming with world-class art and architecture, steeped in captivating traditions, and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural heritage continue to captivate visitors from around the world, making it a truly unique and unforgettable destination.

Weight: 315g
Dimension: 200 x 130 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801101158