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| Siena Oca |
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"Never forget your roots
Especially when they remind you
Of a gleaming past that perfectly weds
With the present"
So goes one motto of Siena's Goose district, in which this apartment is located and after which it is
named. Perhaps the neighborhood's greatest claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of St. Catherine, Italy's
patron saint and the first woman to ever be named a Doctor of the Church. Born in 1347, she was the daughter
of a prosperous cloth-dyer who, like most of those practicing his trade, lived right here. Indeed, the colors
on today's Oca contrada banner were originally those of the cloth-dyers' guild. Famed throughout Christendom
for her acts of extreme self-abnegation (including what may be the first documented accounts of bulimia),
Catherine resembled Italy's male patron saint, Francis, in her courageous outbursts against the corruption
and profanity of church elders from the Pope on down. In many ways she symbolizes the character of the Sienese:
fierce, erudite, independent, stoic, and pretty darn sure they are right about almost everything! Much to
the sorrow of her fellow Oca members, Catherine's body is in Rome. But her head and thumb lie in state down
the street at the Duomo, thanks to a handful of enterprising 14th-century Sienese who actually beheaded her
(posthumously, that is!) in order to spirit at least part of her back home. Ask your neighbors to tell you
the story about how they managed to get the severed testa past the Pope's guards: it is one of countless
miracles the locals never tire of narrating.
The Siena Oca apartment is in the very heart of the city, so if you are lucky enough to stay here during the Palio festivities, don't expect to sleep much! Normally, you will find it is sunny and quiet, thanks to its location on the third floor. It is true, you will need to climb the stairs to get here, but elevators are almost unheard of in Siena, because they are considered an unsightly blemish on the historical character of ancient buildings such as this. It must also be said that Siena itself is built on a steep grade, so if you cannot do three flights of stairs you may want to reconsider spending more than a quick visit in the city. If this is not a problem for you, then Siena and Oca are both bound to leave you with pleasant memories for years to come!
Although this is a very historical apartment, you will find it equipped with all the amenities you're looking for. It is fully air-conditioned and centrally heated, there is DSL Internet access, the owners provide a cellphone if you don't have one, and the appliances include a washing machine, dishwasher, oven and range, microwave oven, toaster, American coffeemaker, juicer, hair drier, iron and board. The living room features plenty of seating ranged around the fireplace, while off to one side is an ultra-modern open kitchen with a full fridge/freezer and counter with stools. The dining area is in its own nook next door, and above is an open loft with a desk, chairs and Internet access. The soaring wood-beamed ceiling and two windows with their views of the Duomo and San Domenico church make the room feel even bigger than it is.
Sleeping quarters in this apartment are at the end of a hall which has a big closet and a washing machine. One bedroom has a queen bed and en suite bathroom with tub and shower; the other bedroom has either a queen bed or two twin beds. There is a second bathroom with shower off the hall and upstairs on the loft, a single bedroom with skylight. Rounding out the niceties of Siena Oca is the owner's parking spot, which is in the nearby municipal lot. There is no charge for the spot, only a refundable deposit for the special permit (worth its weight in gold in Siena!).
