During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries Siena flourished as one of the major cities of Europe, growing rich from banking and the wool trade, that's why the fourteenth century saw a great amount of building: the Duomo, Palazzo Pubblico and the Campo were all begun then. The city was built across a range of small hills, a unique position which gives it a pleasant atmosphere of being a collection of smaller towns. From the Campo it is fairly easy to get your bearings. This spectacular shell-shaped space is the focal point of the city, the meeting place and the market place as well as being the venue for the Palio, the traditional horse race, which is held on July 2 and August 16 every year. Whenever you come to Siena, the medieval atmosphere of the town surrounds you all year long!