Visit Siena article will help you discover the essential charms of this lovely Tuscan city, considered by many even more captivating than Florence. Furthermore, we will show you what to see and what to do, where to sleep, and how much time you should spend there. So, if you’d like to learn more about this, please stay with us.
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Why visit Siena
Siena is likely Italy’s loveliest medieval city and a trip worth making even if you are in Tuscany for just a few days. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
You can only say you’ve been to Tuscany with visiting Siena, which varies significantly from Florence. This beautiful medieval town boasts a rich history of art and cultural traditions. Start your day in the heart of the city, Piazza del Campo. This shell-shaped square is renowned for its incomparable beauty and is the town’s civic center. Here you can see the lovely Fonte Gaia and climb up to the top of the Torre del Mangia. There are over 400 steps, but it offers stunning views. Furthermore, you can buy a combined ticket to the Civic Museum, which displays a spectacular collection of art and frescoes. Twice a year, Piazza del Campo hosts the celebrated Palio di Siena, where ten horses representing the central districts compete during a race around the square.
If you have enough time after lunch, spend your afternoon visiting other sights in Siena, including the Duomo, to admire the masterpieces of Donatello, Michelangelo, and Pinturicchio and the stunning baptismal font inside the Baptistery.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995, Siena is known worldwide for its artistic, historical, and cultural heritage. So, if you’re visiting Tuscany, you should take a day trip to Siena or a short tour to San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, and Chianti.
Here’s a list of what to see and do if you plan a day trip from Florence to Siena.
Piazza del Campo with Palazzo Publico and Torre di Mangia (tower)
©discovertuscany.com
Visit Siena – Top attractions
Piazza del Campo
The Heart & Soul of the City
A universal symbol of the city, the distinct form of the Piazza del Campo is just one of the reasons why UNESCO recognizes Siena as the ideal embodiment of a medieval city—built in the exact place where the three antique hilltop towns sloped together before eventually combining to create the community of Siena.
The main square, commonly called “il Campo,” was built on the intersection of the three main roads that lead to and from Siena, destined to be a neutral ground where political and civic holidays could be celebrated.
Palazzo Pubblico
The Palazzo Pubblico faces Piazzo del Campo – where the medieval population would meet for civic and cultural affairs. Piazza del Mercato is in the back, one of Siena’s more critical and oldest squares, built long before Piazza del Campo. The Palazzo Pubblico houses the Civic Museum with its many famous masterpieces of Sienese art.
Torre del Mangia
The Torre del Mangia, another symbol of Siena, stands next to the Palazzo Pubblico and is precisely the same height as the Cathedral, symbolizing that church and state were equally important. The tower has two levels: a long red-brick structure and a magnificent marble loggia. The shaft reminded one of a tulip and was added in 1352 as a dedication to Virgin Mary after the Black Death. So, climb the 400 steps and see beautiful city views from Piazza del Campo to the Chianti hills.
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Attend Palio di Siena
Suppose you are visiting the city in early July or mid-August. In that case, you can attend the Palio (July 2nd and August 16th), the traditional medieval horse race held around the edges of Piazza del Campo. The Palio is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most famous historical events.
Italy’s most famous horse race occurs twice yearly in Piazza del Campo, Siena’s main medieval square. It has for centuries been a competition among the city’s districts, called contrade. This historical tradition dates to 1633, but Siena relives the event with the zeal of its past every year.
©I, Sailko/Wikipedia
Siena’s Cathedral
The Duomo in Siena lies in a piazza above the Piazza del Campo, a great Gothic building filled with treasures by Pisano, Donatello, and Michelangelo, as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio.
One of Italy’s finest Gothic-Romanesque churches, Siena’s Cathedral is stunning inside and out. The Gothic facade is truly spectacular, but the best part is its interior: the elaborate marble intarsia floor is impressive.
©Lindley Johnson/Pexel
©discovertuscany.com
The Piccolomini Library, a Jewel within a Gem
So you’ve stepped into the Cathedral and need a few moments to accustom yourself to the richness of the interiors. You don’t know where to start, from the excellent works of art made on the pavements to the black and white marble columns. Take one piece at a time and work yourself halfway into the Cathedral, then head to your left to the Piccolomini Library.
Suppose you’re wondering what a library is doing within the Siena Duomo. In that case, we must first explain the importance of the Piccolomini name in Siena. You’ve likely already seen it both in Siena and the area, mainly if you’ve also visited Pienza in the Val d’Orcia, where the family was from.
The Baptistery of St. John (San Giovanni)
The Baptistery is a separate part of the Duomo Complex. On the outside, you can see the stunning yet unfinished marble facade, built in Gothic style. On the inside, you can admire the baptismal font in bronze, marble, and gold created by the leading sculptors of the time: Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Jacopo della Quercia.
Pinacoteca Nazionale
In the National Art Gallery of Siena, you can see a rich collection of masterpieces from the famous Sienese school of artists. It stands on a quiet and picturesque street next to the Duomo. These paintings explain why Siena and Florence were central to the renewal of Italian art tendencies and how they differed: Sienese art needed to be more realistic and focused on proportions and spatial representations.
What else to see
This section will present you with equally fascinating attractions. However, they are more suitable for those visiting Siena for over a day.
Palazzo Salimbeni
Palazzo Salimbeni – located in Piazza Salimbeni, is an impressive Neo-Gothic building. It is also the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world’s oldest surviving bank (founded in 1472). Palazzo Salimbeni also houses a prestigious art collection.
Traditions, artisans
Siena has a vibrant civic life. Suppose you visit a few days before the Palio. In that case, you will probably find people singing and eating in the streets to celebrate the upcoming race. There are many artisan shops in the medieval lanes where you can shop for leather, clothes, and souvenirs.
©Viator
Local cuisine
Siena has a rich culinary tradition; you can only visit the city to taste its delicious cold cuts, cheese, main courses, and Christmas sweets! Try finocchiona (pork salami with fennel), for instance, Salame chianino, salame di cinta senese, Tartufo salami and wild boar sausages, pappardelle or pici with wild boar or hare sauce, some pecorino cheese (fresh or aged) and finally ricciarelli (almond biscuits), panforte and panpepato. They are just delicious!
Wine Shops in Siena
Given the city’s superb location between the Chianti region directly to the north and the Vino di Nobile and Brunello di Montalcino areas to the south, Siena is the finest place to find almost every kind of Tuscan wine produced. The wide selection of DOC and DOCG wines produced all over the province of Siena includes some of the most renowned wines in all the world, mainly red ones (Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano come first, but the others – Chianti, Chianti Superiore, Chianti Colli Senesi – are not any less), but also white, as the Vernaccia di San Gimignano, the Tuscan white par excellence.
Visit Siena – Chianti region
©garlandwines.com
Discover Chianti valley and San Gimignano
We encourage you to discover the town’s surroundings, the Chianti area, and the medieval village of San Gimignano. Of course, there are many other sites to see, but we’ll focus on this for now.
If you decide to go, you will enjoy the famous Tuscan hills and vineyards. Furthermore, you can allow yourself an unforgettable local dinner under the sunset. Local dinner usually includes seasonal and fresh Tuscan products like salami, bruschetta, and a traditional pasta dish. Furthermore, try to drink some of the classic Chianti wines along it.
Terme Saturnia – Cascate del Mulino
©.termedisaturnia.it
Saturnia Spa or Terme di Saturnia
If you have more time, you can take the car, go to Terme di Saturnia, and immerse yourself in this miracle of nature. For over 3000 years, people have used this natural power of our thermal waters that gush from the earth’s center at a constant 37.5°C. More importantly, the atmosphere there is quite magical. Rich minerals heal, the Saturnia zooplankton promotes beauty, and nature’s tranquillity brings peace to your mind.
What to see in Siena in a day?
Suppose you visit Siena for the first time. In that case, we recommend you go straight into the city’s heart to the beautiful Piazza del Campo, one of the city’s landmarks. You can start your day in Siena or head towards the Duomo, returning to Piazza del Campo later.
The city’s main attractions are between Piazza del Campo and the Cathedral, so you’ll likely spend most of your time here!
How to get to Siena?
The nearest airports are in Pisa and Florence. But if you live overseas, you will most likely land in Rome or Milan. You can take the train to Florence (from Milan) or the bus (from Rome).
Furthermore, because it lies in the middle of Tuscany, reaching Siena from other regions is effortless by car, train, or bus. The closest town to Siena is Florence, only 80km away, or you can also arrive from Pisa, which is 130 kilometers away. Even though the train station is situated outside the city (2km distance), you can easily take a bus from the train station to the city center of Siena.
There are trains departing regularly to and from Florence. You can check the official website of Trenitalia. In other cities like Rome or Milan, you must switch trains in Florence. However, there is a daily bus connection between Rome and Siena too. So, it would be best if you considered this option too.
If you arrive by car, it is essential to know that the city center is closed to vehicle traffic, so inside the city, plan to walk or use public transportation.
Note:
- Try to find some valuable deals on Omio.com (trains and buses).
- Try to find some valuable deals on Skyscanner (flights).
How to get around in Siena?
Getting around Siena is relatively easy. It is not a big city, and you’ll be delighted to walk on narrow streets full of beautiful brick buildings with lovely colors.
If you want to explore the areas around Siena, rent a car for a day or take a public bus to get to places like San Gimignano.
What is the best time of year to visit Siena?
Although not explicitly aimed at tourists, il Palio, held on July 2nd and August 16th every year, does provide a popular spectacle. Visitors wishing to visit Siena would be advised to arrange travel and book accommodation well in advance.
On the contrary, serious gourmets will want to visit Siena in the autumn. Many restaurants make a feature of using local seasonal food. Porcini, cep mushrooms, and plump-eating grapes are at their best in autumn, followed shortly by delicious winter truffles. The region’s best wines, like Montalcino and Montepulciano, are available all year round.
Where to stay in Siena?
The most suitable place to stay is in the city center, but expect hotels to have higher prices because of the location. You can find cheaper accommodation a bit further from the city center but plan to spend more time and money traveling to and from the city center each day.
You can check websites like booking.com and Airbnb.com to find hostels or rent apartments and houses. If you are on a budget or solo trip and want to meet new people, you can check hostelword.com, which has many hostel listings.
Note: try to find some valuable deals on Booking.com.
Visit Siena – final words.
For us, Siena is one of the most charming places in Italy, even more than Florence. But perhaps this is so because we are “suckers” for hilly towns and villages. So, should you decide to visit the city and its surroundings, we guarantee you will have the best authentic experience.
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