Siena - Basilica di San Domenico

The oldest aristocratic families in Siena date their line to the Lombards' surrender in 774 to Charlemagne. At this point, Frankish overseers married into the existing Sienese nobility. Feudal power waned, however, and by the death of Countess Matilda in 1115 the border territory of the March of Tuscany which had been under the control of her family, the Canossa, broke up into several autonomous regions. This ultimately resulted in the creation of the Republic of Siena.

The Republic existed for over four hundred years, from the 12th century until 1555. In contrast to Florence, Siena was on the Ghibelline side in the dispute between the emperor and the papacy and thus received various privileges. Essentially, however, behind this conflict was an economic rivalry between the two trading cities. The Florentines were defeated at the Battle of Montaperti in 1260. During the golden age of Siena before the Black Death in 1348, the city was home to 50,000 people.

Unlike the Medici, who ruled in Florence, no family was able to establish a stable dynasty. In the War of 1551–59, the republic was defeated by Florence in alliance with the Spanish crown. In 1512 the city found itself under the protection of Charles V. The citizens rebelled against the tyranny of the Spaniards, but In 1555 Siena was taken after a long siege and two years later given as a fief to Cosimo I de Medici, under whom it became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

The church was built by the Dominicans from 1226 onwards, , shortly after Saint Domingo de Guzmán had visited the city. The nave was built between 1246 and around 1300. The stones used for the transept come from the city tower of the Counts d'Elci, which collapsed in 1338. The church is also known as "Basilica Cateriniana". This refers to Catherine of Siena, a Dominican saint. After Catherine's death in Rome in 1380 her head was brought to Siena in 1383. It is now in San Domenico.

In the 14th century, the church was enlarged. In 1430 the church building was included in the city wall ring of Siena. The campanile was built from 1490 to 1517. In 1531 fires affected the church. The fire of December 4, 1531, spared the relics of St. Catherine.

The occupation of the church by the Spanish militia 1548-1552 led to damage, as they expanded the church into a fortress and set up camp there. In 1798, an earthquake caused extensive damage to the church. Because of this, the campanile had to be shortened.

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