Visiting Siena, Italy

Often times, it is the surprises in life that are the most memorable. Take my visit to Italy, for an example. I was surprised to find myself there. It was not a trip I had spent months pondering on, but when the opportunity presented itself, I didn't hesitate to accept.

After the late arrival in Tuscany the night before, the plan was to spend a good part of the following day visiting Siena. Walking through her narrow cobblestone streets, our first destination was the Duomo, a cathedral so beautifully unique that I still find myself thinking about it today. 

 

Lupa At The Duomo
3 1/2 x 5 1/2", (sketch book) Ink Pen
Rita Salazar Dickerson 

It was a mild October afternoon. Before entering the cathedral, I sat outside enjoying the view of the main entrance. Breathtaking. This column of the female wolf (lupa), the symbol of Siena, with the two small figures underneath her, captured my attention.
 

Village Church In Tuscany
5 1/2 x 3 1/2 (sketch book) Ink Pen
Rita Salazar Dickerson

We arrived late at night in Tuscany. With the car's headlights, the only distinctions that I noticed as we drove up and down the narrow, winding, country roads was the relatively warm, dry air and the tall Cypress trees that occasionally loomed over us - silhouetted against the dark sky. And so the next morning I was excited to see the great contrasts to what I had been seeing in England.

Our first goal was to visit Siena. Along the way we stopped briefly at a little village. I only had a few minutes to draw and so I looked up to see this church with its simple yet interesting roof line. I had to forgive myself for all of the imperfections from the moment I started - reminding myself that the purpose of this sketch was to study the lines, note the perspective of the bell tower - and to draw a memory!