Description
The Medici Fortress, also called Forte di Santa Barbara, is a big brick quadrilateral with four bastions, on the edge of Siena's center between the stadium and the Lizza gardens. Inside: trees, benches and summer concerts.
The fort is the work of the Urbino architect Baldassarre Lanci, who built it between 1561 and 1563 on the orders of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The interior is about 180 meters long and 125 wide, and the outer perimeter runs to 1,500 meters.
From outside, what stands out are the four pentagonal bastions, pointed in the Italian style of fortification. They are called San Filippo, San Francesco, San Domenico and La Madonna, and each one closes a corner of the quadrilateral.
On the north, east and west bastions you can see the Medici coat of arms in travertine, set on a lion's head. On the south one only the head is left. The sculptures are attributed to the Florentine Francesco Camilliani.
Then you climb up to the ramparts that run along the perimeter: the very thickness of the walls has become a promenade with trees and benches. In the middle of the esplanade there is an amphitheater for open-air summer shows, and the fort is home to a wine bar and Siena Jazz.
The history, though, is less peaceful. In 1548 Emperor Charles V had a citadel built here, and not to defend against enemies: the aim was to keep the Sienese under control. To get building material, the Spanish ambassador had the city's ancient noble towers cut down.
In 1552 the Sienese rose up, besieged the Spaniards in the still unfinished fortress and began to tear it down. But in 1555, worn out by more than a year of siege, Siena surrendered, and after the peace of 1559 the State of Siena passed to Cosimo I.
It was he who ordered today's fortress, right on top of the Spanish citadel, to smother any new rebellion. The soldiers left only at the end of the 18th century, under Grand Duke Peter Leopold, and in 1937 the interior, until then a barracks, became a public garden.
Beneath the main entrance you cross the Ponte della Vecchia ("Old Woman's Bridge"). The name comes from the statue of an old woman that adorned the fountain on Via Pantaneto: in 1815 the fountain was rebuilt and the statue was moved here, until in 1829 it was destroyed by unknown hands.
The name stuck, though, and for many years it seemed to refer to a local woman, Gina Parrini, known as the "Batina" (1905-1985). In 2000 a plaque remembers her in two words: "A Gina".
The fortress stands in the territory of the Istrice contrada, and on August 17, 1874 it hosted an unofficial Palio alla Romana, run by nine contrade and won by the Oca. On the side facing the old town stands the statue of Saint Catherine of Siena.
The fort is the work of the Urbino architect Baldassarre Lanci, who built it between 1561 and 1563 on the orders of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The interior is about 180 meters long and 125 wide, and the outer perimeter runs to 1,500 meters.
From outside, what stands out are the four pentagonal bastions, pointed in the Italian style of fortification. They are called San Filippo, San Francesco, San Domenico and La Madonna, and each one closes a corner of the quadrilateral.
On the north, east and west bastions you can see the Medici coat of arms in travertine, set on a lion's head. On the south one only the head is left. The sculptures are attributed to the Florentine Francesco Camilliani.
Then you climb up to the ramparts that run along the perimeter: the very thickness of the walls has become a promenade with trees and benches. In the middle of the esplanade there is an amphitheater for open-air summer shows, and the fort is home to a wine bar and Siena Jazz.
The history, though, is less peaceful. In 1548 Emperor Charles V had a citadel built here, and not to defend against enemies: the aim was to keep the Sienese under control. To get building material, the Spanish ambassador had the city's ancient noble towers cut down.
In 1552 the Sienese rose up, besieged the Spaniards in the still unfinished fortress and began to tear it down. But in 1555, worn out by more than a year of siege, Siena surrendered, and after the peace of 1559 the State of Siena passed to Cosimo I.
It was he who ordered today's fortress, right on top of the Spanish citadel, to smother any new rebellion. The soldiers left only at the end of the 18th century, under Grand Duke Peter Leopold, and in 1937 the interior, until then a barracks, became a public garden.
Beneath the main entrance you cross the Ponte della Vecchia ("Old Woman's Bridge"). The name comes from the statue of an old woman that adorned the fountain on Via Pantaneto: in 1815 the fountain was rebuilt and the statue was moved here, until in 1829 it was destroyed by unknown hands.
The name stuck, though, and for many years it seemed to refer to a local woman, Gina Parrini, known as the "Batina" (1905-1985). In 2000 a plaque remembers her in two words: "A Gina".
The fortress stands in the territory of the Istrice contrada, and on August 17, 1874 it hosted an unofficial Palio alla Romana, run by nine contrade and won by the Oca. On the side facing the old town stands the statue of Saint Catherine of Siena.