All the pilgrims came from the north, that is, from the Florentine Republic; once they arrived in the city it was necessary to exchange currency. This meant the good fortune of several families who practiced this profession. For centuries, millions of pilgrims have passed through Siena and stayed in the city. “Siena is the daughter of the road”, as the historian Ernesto Sestan said about half a century ago. In fact, it has always been a city of merchants, bankers and money changers, dedicated to lending money in all the major European markets. It was among the first banking centers of medieval Europe.

---