Siena Overview: Siena is a classic medieval hill town in Tuscany famous for its large fan-shaped piazza, (definition of piazza). Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena and is the home of Siena's famous summer horse-race, known as Il Palio (see more about it in Siena Festivals below). Siena is one of Italy's prettiest medieval towns. Siena's peak was about 1260-1348 when it was one of Europe's wealthiest cities and many of its buildings and art works originate from that time.
Siena Location: Siena is 60km south of Florence near the center of the Tuscany region (Tuscany map). Between Siena and Florence lies the Chianti Wine Region. Siena is about 200 km north of Rome.
Siena Transportation: Siena is 2-3 hours from Rome by train and 3-4 hours from Milan. Both Rome and Milan have international airports serving the US and other cities in Europe. The smaller airports at Florence and Pisa are closer and serve other cities in Italy and Europe. You can reach Siena by train or bus from other cities in Tuscany. Buses take you into Siena's center. Siena's train station is outside the center and connected to central Siena by bus. There are parking lots on the main roads as you approach Siena's center that are served by shuttle bus. Some are within walking distance if you don't mind a long walk.
Siena Tourist Office: Siena's Tourist Office is at Piazza del Campo, 56. They have information and maps for Sienna and the countryside including the Chianti wine region.
Siena Festivals: Siena's most famous festival is Il Palio di Siena, a horse race run in Siena's Piazza del Campo. Siena is divided into 17 neighborhoods, or contrade, each with a rider. 10 contrade take part in the first race, July 2. The other 7 plus 3 from the July race compete August 16. Winning the palio is a huge honor and the race is highly competitive. There are other festivities around the days of the palio, too. The races are very crowded - you might be able to snag a standing place, reserved seats are usually sold out in advance. More on Il Palio di Siena.
Siena Hotels: Venere.com has more than 20 listings for hotels in Siena. I often use Venere to search for and book hotels. The hotel descriptions are good, there are user ratings, you can see the hotel location on a map, and making reservations on the site is easy.
Wine Tasting in Siena: Siena has an enoteca, or wine bar, in the ramparts of the 16th century fortress. The enoteca offers wine tastings, wine by the glass, and snacks. Enoteca Italiana is in Fortezza Medicea, via Camolia 72. It opens at noon, Monday-Saturday and is closed on Sundays.
Near Siena: The countryside outside of Siena is beautiful and unusual. You'll come across small villages, medieval hill towns, grape vines, and olive trees. The Crete Senese is the area of clay hills south of Sienna, a striking and barren landscape. North of Siena is the Chianti Classico wine region. If you want to go wine tasting, see our Tips on Visiting Chianti Wineries. La Certosa di Pontignano is a beautiful monastery outside Siena, now a university guest house.
Siena Attractions:
Piazza del Campo, also known as Il Campo, is the heart of Siena. Il Campo is paved with brick and ringed by cafes, restaurants, and historic buildings. Narrow medieval streets lead to the piazza, which has an unusual fan shape. Piazza del Campo was originally the Roman forum and later was Siena's main marketplace.
Palazzo Pubblico, Siena's Gothic town hall building, and the bell tower, Torre del Mangia, dominate Piazza del Campo. Torre del Mangia, 102 meters tall, is the second highest medieval bell tower in Italy. You can walk up the tower's 505 steps for some great views of Siena.
Fonte Gaia is an ornate fountain carved by Jacopo della Quercia in the fifteenth century. The one you see today is a 19th century copy. It sits at the north end of Il Campo.
Piazza del Duomo is another beautiful square and home to Siena's Duomo. The impressive Duomo has a black and white facade with intricate carvings and statues. The beautiful marble floor is decorated with a series of inlaid pictures. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo has some beautiful art works. It's open daily, 9-1:30
Siena's art museum, Pinacoteca Nazionale, houses some of Italy's greatest paintings from the 13th and 14th centuries. The musuem opens daily at 8:15 but closes at 1:30 on Sundays and Mondays.
Source: about.com
