Historic Centre of Siena

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Historic Centre of Siena from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Accessible cities, ‘permeable’ urban walls. Experiences of accessibility to fortified heritage between Italy and Spain

  City walls, once symbols of division and impermeability, can be transformed into 'permeable' spaces that redefine the relationship between historic centers and their surroundings. This study highlights how intact urban fortifications offer new perspectives on the city-palimpsest, acting as filters that enhance both physical and cognitive accessibility. Focusing on Italian and Spanish contexts, it investigates design strategies aimed at improving access to these fragile heritage sites, reflecting on restoration and architectural approaches. By analyzing published sources and recent experiences, the research explores operational methods and outcomes, providing insights into the challenges and potential of making fortified heritage more inclusive and dynamic.

  Festa, A. (2026). Accessible cities, ‘permeable’ urban walls. Experiences of accessibility to fortified heritage between Italy and Spain. PROCEEDINGS of the International Conference on Fortifications of the Mediterranean Coast FORTMED 2026. Vol. 23. https://doi.org/10.4995/fortmed2026.2026.21412

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• “O novo sobre o antigo”: Brandi e a tutela dos centros históricos como instância moral

  Cesare Brandi's theoretical framework for the restoration of historic centers, particularly his stance on the ethical and moral imperative to preserve urban heritage, stands out as a pivotal contribution. His work, rooted in aesthetic, historical, and ethical principles, rejects contemporary insertions into ancient contexts, advocating instead for the safeguarding of these spaces as a civic duty. This perspective is illustrated through Brandi's interventions in Siena, his hometown, where he critiqued redevelopment projects that threatened its historic integrity. By comparing his views with contemporaries like Argan and Quaroni, the study underscores Brandi's unique ethical approach to conservation, emphasizing the protection of urban landscapes as irreplaceable bearers of civilization. This framework offers enduring critical tools for balancing conservation and transformation in historic cities.

  Docci, M. (2026). “New insertions on the old”: Brandi and the protection of historic centers as a moral instance. Anais Do Museu Paulista: História E Cultura Material, 34, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.11606/1982-02672026v34e5

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• From data to belonging: citizen science, urban friction, and institutional response in Siena

  Citizen science initiatives in Siena, Italy, transcend data collection to foster relational practices that challenge urban governance hierarchies. By engaging diverse groups—students, residents, migrants, volunteers, and researchers—in documenting everyday life and river ecosystems, these projects become platforms for negotiating belonging and presence. Ethnographic engagement, data walks, and interviews reveal how digital tools, while enabling participation, also act as epistemic gatekeepers, creating 'urban friction' that can drive more responsive knowledge practices. This study highlights citizen science as a transformative force in urban politics, bridging gaps between communities and institutions.

  Sepehr, P., & Sanna, V. S. (2026). From data to belonging: citizen science, urban friction, and institutional response in Siena. Urban Research & Practice, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2026.2685319

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• Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena

  Siena's urban identity was forged through strategic narratives, challenging its perceived lack of Roman heritage. The city countered criticism by crafting legends—such as the she-wolf and Saint Ansanus—rooted in historical materials like archives and artworks. During the Renaissance, Siena redefined its history, drawing on classical culture to assert legitimacy amid Italian rivalries. This study reveals how local identity formation in Siena was a dynamic interplay of fact, fiction, and legend, offering insights into the enduring complexity of urban narratives.

  Yin, M. (2025). Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena. Religions, 16(3), 337. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16030337

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• An agent-based model to foster citizens’ sustainable behavior in the Italian city of Siena

  Research reveals that the historical layout and connectivity of Siena, an Italian art city renowned for sustainability, paradoxically hinder the adoption of cooperative environmental behaviors among its citizens. Using a geo-referenced agent-based model (ABM) combined with game theory, the study simulates how pro-environmental attitudes spread in a population dominated by selfish individuals, incorporating herding and anti-herding dynamics. Findings suggest that while Siena's geographical features inherently promote sustainability, its urban structure limits collective action for environmental protection. This work highlights the complex interplay between urban design and citizen behavior in fostering sustainable practices.

  Socci, V., Vitanza, E., & Mocenni, C. (2025). An agent-based model to foster citizens’ sustainable behavior in the Italian city of Siena. The European Physical Journal B, 98(4). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-025-00910-9

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• Siena, The Rise of Painting 1300-1350: The Beginnings of Naturalistic Lighting Techniques in Art as an Accompaniment to Shifting Perspective

  A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the early 14th century marked a pivotal shift in art, with light being incorporated in a naturalistic manner—d Dubbed 'motivated light,' this technique, pioneered by Duccio and Giotto, transformed paintings into more recognizable depictions of real-life scenarios while allowing for symbolic or dramatic effects. By applying stage lighting principles to three seminal works, the study demonstrates how this innovation laid the foundation for the Renaissance's creative evolution, achieving fully naturalistic yet manipulable light within a century.

  Morgan, Dr. N. (2025). Siena, The Rise of Painting 1300-1350: The Beginnings of Naturalistic Lighting Techniques in Art as an Accompaniment to Shifting Perspective. Review of Arts and Humanities. https://doi.org/10.15640/rah.vol13p1

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• Geographies of finance and metamorphoses of power: Dynamics of urban transformation during the 15th and 16th centuries in Rome

  A significant shift in urban and economic power dynamics emerged during the 15th and 16th centuries, with Rome positioning itself as the central hub of Christianity and international finance. This transformation was driven by strategic financial policies implemented by successive popes, who leveraged the expertise of influential merchant and banker families, such as the Chigi, to monopolize key industries like alum production in Tolfa. Siena's economic strength, rooted in cooperative ventures and mineral wealth, attracted papal attention, further accelerating Rome's rise as a global market leader. The study employs historical accounts and financial records to dissect these dynamics, revealing how geopolitical ambitions and economic strategies reshaped urban landscapes and financial systems during this pivotal period.

  Maddaluno, R. (2025). Geographies of finance and metamorphoses of power: Dynamics of urban transformation during the 15th and 16th centuries in Rome. Creation, Transformation and Metamorphosis, 102–109. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003260585-17

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