Siena stands as a brick-and-marble time capsule of the Middle Ages, where banking ambition, artistic revolution, and fierce civic identity fused into one of the great medieval Italian city states. Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield is joined by archaeologist and researcher Lucy Shipley to explore this enchanting Tuscan city. Together they explore the city’s early years as a Roman military colony, its flourishing in the Middle Ages, and its later decline and revival. Along the way, they meet important figures who played major roles in Siena's story – and recommend top tips for eager travellers.

History’s Greatest Cities is produced by HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Listen to our other podcasts History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, History’s Greatest Scandals, History’s Greatest Battles, HistoryExtra Long Reads and the HistoryExtra podcast at ⁠historyextra.com/podcast⁠.

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