a crossroads near the rue camollia. on the outskirts of sienna, the banned guelphs and the reigning ghibellines fight. the guelphs are led by orso who had been banished for having dared to throw a garland to the ghibelline cordelia saracini. from the battle the guelfes emerge victorious at the portcullis of the saracini palace. orso demands that cordelia appear at the balcony and open the gates to the town. cordelia replies to him: « … now is not the time to open the gates, when thieves are in the town! » orso give orders for an assault, the gate rises and he enters the saracini palace bent on vengeance. rather than throw cordelia from the window as the screaming crowd demands, he drags her half-strangled back into the palace.