Sketching and Sightseeing: Trip to Siena
It’s hard to believe how quickly the weeks are flying by here in Volterra. Between class projects and day trips, we’ve been soaking in as much as we can. Siena was an amazing experience, and seeing these historic spaces in person reminded us why we’re passionate about architecture in the first place.
I have to say, Siena’s Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was absolutely beautiful. The white and dark green marble stripes running across the facade gave it this bold, dramatic flair. The closer you look, you see all these little sculptural details: saints, prophets, animals, etc. The cathedral is telling its own story before you even step inside. The interior was jaw-dropping as well, especially the Piccolomini Library. That space was magical. The frescoes were so vivid and well-preserved that it almost felt like stepping into a pop-up storybook.
Palazzo Pubblico and the Piazza del Campo in Siena are so cleverly designed. It’s shaped like a shell, gently sloping down toward the center, which naturally brings people together. As architecture students, it was nice to see how everyone was using the space differently; kids chasing each other with a ball, people lounging in the sun, and others just strolling or grabbing a seat in the shade.
Let’s shift gears and talk about some coursework because, aside from travel, that’s what we’re really here for. This semester in our urban sketching class, we spent time exploring Volterra through pen and pencil, capturing the beauty of the streets and the quiet charm of the landscape. We’re excited to share a selection of our classwork, along with some personal sketches done outside of class. Each sketch tells a little story of our time here and how we’ve grown as observers and artists.
It’s only the beginning of the semester, but it already feels like we’ve seen and learned so much. Being surrounded by such rich history and getting to sketch it firsthand has made everything we’re studying feel more real and alive. We’re excited to keep exploring, creating, and seeing where the next weeks take us.
– More to come soon,
Daria Facchinato