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Travel | In Europe, 63 destinations off the beaten path
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Medieval Siena stretches over three steep hills in the heart of the Chianti region of Tuscany. It's renowned for its Gothic cathedral as well as its Piazza del Campo, whose paving stones were laid in 1347. Twice a year, the piazza is transformed. A dirt track is laid around the perimeter in the days before the Palio, always July 2 and Aug. 16. The race ? a tribute to the Madonna, Siena's patron saint ? is of uncertain origin but dates back as far as the 13th century. The Palio itself is a silk banner dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Each year, Siena artists compete to design the flag for the July contest, and international artists do the same for the August race. -- Alan C. Miller Read more: <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/30/travel/tr-palio30">In Siena, victory is everything</a> Pictured: Siena's main square.
Susan Spano / Los Angeles Times
Medieval Siena stretches over three steep hills in the heart of the Chianti region of Tuscany. It’s renowned for its Gothic cathedral as well as its Piazza del Campo, whose paving stones were laid in 1347. Twice a year, the piazza is transformed. A dirt track is laid around the perimeter in the days before the Palio, always July 2 and Aug. 16. The race ? a tribute to the Madonna, Siena’s patron saint ? is of uncertain origin but dates back as far as the 13th century. The Palio itself is a silk banner dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Each year, Siena artists compete to design the flag for the July contest, and international artists do the same for the August race. — Alan C. Miller Read more: In Siena, victory is everything Pictured: Siena’s main square.

In Europe, 63 destinations off the beaten path

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Considering a trip to Europe? Look past the crowds and hefty price tag of Europe’s usual suspects and venture onto a road less traveled.

Beyond Rome, Paris, London and the like, Europe offers a vast and varied cache of history, beauty and culture. The landscapes of France’s Barbizon inspired 19th Century artists. Cappadocia’s rock-hewn monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage site, blend Turkey’s natural history with religious lore. Zagreb, past Croatia’s decades of conflict, is blossoming into a vibrant and colorful capital city.

–Los Angeles Times

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