Siena, Italy (July 2004)

My sister and I arrived
in Siena on a warm, summer afternoon, and sought to take it the sleepy town's architectural wonders. The bell tower in Siena is the highest in Italy, overlooking the wide Piazza del Campo below and the Tuscan countryside that lies beyond the city limits. My sister and I climbed to the top of the tower (a total of 102 meters upward). The climb seemed mild at first, but as you gain height in the tower, the interior staircase narrows and the ceiling drops. For those who get claustrophobic easily, this is not the site for you! Once we hit the top (out of breath might I add), the views are spectacular.
There is a good sized balcony area (as bell towers go) to walk around and take snapshots of the panoramic views. There is an excellent aerial view of the Siena Cathedral duomo and its black-and-white striped campanile. While my sister and I were in the midst of snapping pictures, the bell rang! It scared the crap out of us!! The bells clanged with such force and volume that everyone up there jumped in surprise, and was even scarier was that we could feel the vibrations of the bells beneath our feet.
After our jolt, we climbed back down the tower (almost scarier than going up) and continued to explore the other sights Siena had to offer. I highly recommend paying the 5 or so Euro to see the inside of the
Palazzo Pubblico, the palace of Siena, home to the famous frescoes by Tuscan painter Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Also notable is the gorgeous Siena Cathedral, which is aesthetically and spiritually stunning.