Siena, a medieval city of brick, seen from above, represents a sea of roof tiles blending into a setting of steep, twisting stone lanes. This cityscape contains a series of Gothic palaces and pastry shops galore, hidden historic spots and altarpieces of exceptional beauty. The city started as Saena Julia, a Roman colony founded by Augustus some 2,000 years ago. Siena offers a different image of Tuscany from that of Florence, its medieval rival. The city tends to be inscrutable in its culture, art, and life attitude. While Florence produced mystics such as Savonarola, Siena forwarded saintly scholars such as St. Catherine (1347-80) and St. Bernardino (1380-1444). The 12th century pack of textile magnates, and wool traders triggered the city’s prosperity and the competition with Florence, and the two cities kept their enmity for more than 400 years. Later, in the 13th century, the Sienese Ghibellines were crushed under Charles of Anjou. Sienese art was the product of Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers: a highly developed Gothicism, the mighty foil to emerging Florentine Renaissance. In the 14th century, Siena was swiped by the Black Death, claiming over three-quarters of the population, and ending the economy. Then, in 1526, the Spanish took control in 1530 to later hand Siena over to Ducal Florence. By the 16th century, Siena had become simply another part of Grand Ducal Tuscany. As, engaged in struggles for independence, Siena did have little time to develop as a city, the site has greatly retained its medieval air.