Gail Tanzer's Blog
April 17, 2014
All were united
Did you know that in 1500 when Duccio created his Maesta altarpiece that all of the Sienese residents were given a day off work to participate in the city's grand parade to bring the gigantic altarpiece via oxcart to the cathedral? All of the people followd the cart to the Siena Cathedral and crowded into the church for the installation.
April 11, 2014
Going to Siena this summer?Read Duccio and the Maesta.
Siena, Italy turned out to be just about my favorite city when I traveled there to do research for my book about Duccio. If you are traveling there this summer, this historic fiction novel will inform you in an enjoyable manner about all of the little-known but unique facts about Siena.
For example, I will give you a one question test to see if you can answer it: What is a Contrada? The plural of Contrada...Contrade...still exist in Siena and exert a powerful influence on all of Sienese life.
Read my book and you will find the truth about Contrade, and if you go to visit you will see how they are active today...while the uninformed tourist will have no idea what is happening behind the scenes.
For example, I will give you a one question test to see if you can answer it: What is a Contrada? The plural of Contrada...Contrade...still exist in Siena and exert a powerful influence on all of Sienese life.
Read my book and you will find the truth about Contrade, and if you go to visit you will see how they are active today...while the uninformed tourist will have no idea what is happening behind the scenes.
