The Story of Siena and San Gimignano
1902
Here is a book that believes in the romance of history. Written in 1902, when the dust of centuries still settled on Siena's cobblestones and San Gimignano's towers rose unbroken above the Tuscan hills, Edmund G. Gardner crafted something rarer than a mere guidebook: a love letter to two medieval cities that had already begun to fade into dream. He paints Siena not as a museum but as a living republic, its narrow streets teeming with the Guelph and Ghibelline factions, its civic pride expressed in the Palio's mad gallop around the Campo. Gardner traces the city's legendary founding by sons of Remus, its golden age as a banking powerhouse, and its slow eclipse by Florence, all while anchoring every chapter in the stones travelers could still touch and the churches they could still enter. San Gimignano appears as a smaller cousin, its own towers a testament to medieval ambition. This is history as it was once written: with reverence, with narrative sweep, and with the assumption that the past is a country worth visiting.
About The Story of Siena and San Gimignano
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- Chronicles Siena's rise from a small medieval town to a powerful republic, covering the legendary foundation, the development of communal government, and the great victory at Montaperti in 1260. The chapter traces the evolution from consular rule to the government of the Nine, highlighting the constant warfare with Florence and internal factional struggles.
- 2
- Details the life of Catherine Benincasa from her mystical childhood through her emergence as a major religious and political figure. Covers her visions, her role in convincing Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome, and her efforts to heal the Great Schism, ending with her death in Rome in 1380.
- 3
- Traces Siena's political evolution from the fall of the Nine through the rise of the Petrucci tyranny. Covers the chaotic 14th century, the brief Milanese domination, and the emergence of Pandolfo Petrucci as de facto ruler, ending with the fall of his dynasty in 1524.
Key Themes
- Liberty vs Tyranny
- The constant struggle between republican freedom and various forms of despotism runs throughout Siena's history. From the medieval battles against imperial control to the final heroic resistance against Charles V and Cosimo de' Medici, the Sienese consistently fought to preserve their independence and self-governance.
- Religious Devotion and Mysticism
- Siena's deep Catholic faith permeates every aspect of the city's life, from St Catherine's mystical experiences to the repeated dedications of the city to the Virgin Mary. The intertwining of spiritual and temporal concerns creates a unique civic identity centered on divine protection.
- Art as Civic Expression
- The magnificent artistic achievements of Siena serve not merely as decoration but as expressions of civic pride, religious devotion, and political identity. From Duccio's great altarpiece to the allegorical frescoes in the Palazzo Pubblico, art embodies the city's values and aspirations.
Characters
- St Catherine of Siena (Caterina Benincasa)(protagonist)
- Born 1347, mystic and saint who became a major political and religious figure. Daughter of a dyer, she experienced visions and worked to reform the Church and bring peace to Italy.
- Pandolfo Petrucci(major)
- Born 1452, became tyrant of Siena through cunning and force. Known as 'Il Magnifico,' he ruled from 1487 until his death in 1512, maintaining power through mercenaries and political maneuvering.
- Pope Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini)(major)
- Born 1405 in Corsignano, humanist scholar who became Pope in 1458. Transformed his birthplace into Pienza and left lasting architectural and cultural marks on Siena.
- Provenzano Salvani(major)
- Leading Ghibelline noble who was the dominant figure in Siena during the 1260s. Hero of the Battle of Montaperti, later killed at Colle di Val d'Elsa in 1269.
- Duccio di Buoninsegna(major)
- Greatest painter of early Sienese school, active 1278-1313. Created the magnificent altarpiece for the Duomo that was carried in triumph through the city.
- Giovanni Antonio Bazzi (Sodoma)(major)
- Born 1477 in Vercelli, came to Siena in 1501 and became the city's adopted master painter. Known for his wild lifestyle and beautiful frescoes, especially those of St Catherine.
