Rick Steves on the Tuscan town of Siena, Italy’s medieval soul It’s been a backwater since the 14th century — and that’s a big reason why it’s so worth visiting today.

Pictured: Siena’s main square. On "Rick Steves' Heart Of Italy," Rick delves deep into the Italian heartland — the place where la dolce vita is a way of life.

A few blocks off the main square, sitting atop Siena’s highest point and visible for miles around, this white- and dark-green-striped cathedral is as ornate as Gothic gets.

Rick Steves, Blog Gone Europe, August 6, 2013 Stretched across a Tuscan hill, Siena offers Italy 's best medieval city experience.

Stretched across a Tuscan hill, Siena offers perhaps Italy’s best medieval experience. Courtyards sport flower-decked wells, churches modestly share their art, and alleys dead-end into red-ti… ...

By rick@ricksteves.com (Rick Steves)Sep 5, 2013 Erect as an exclamation point, Siena's medieval tower soars above the main square. (photo: Cameron Hewitt)Ricksteves.com ...

Stretched across a Tuscan hill, Siena offers perhaps Italy’s best medieval experience. Courtyards sport flower-decked wells, churches modestly share their art, and alleys dead-end into red-ti… ...

Stretched across a Tuscan hill, Siena offers perhaps Italy’s best medieval experience. Courtyards sport flower-decked wells, churches modestly share their art, and alleys dead-end into red-ti… ...