Siena was one of the most important cities in medieval Europe, home of the world’s first bank, location of one of the world’s first universities, and famous as a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its extraordinary Gothic cathedral, medieval center, museums, art, and the palio horse race held twice a year held in the Piazza del Campo.

The town was settled first by the Etruscans but was insular and unimportant under Roman rule before becoming a thriving trade center under first the Lombards, then the French, and then as an important and prosperous republic from the 12th century onwards. It lost its independence finally to the Spanish and the Duchy of Florence in 1555, but retained much of its prestige and influence, and was one of the first regions in the country to vote to join the Kingdom of Italy in 1859.