10 things not-to-be-missed in Siena:
Siena is one of the most famous Italian cities and a place every tourist aims to visit during a trip to Tuscany. It is famous for its Palio that take place twice a year, and for its characteristic narrow streets flanked by brick buildings. The historic city is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO and is filled with beautiful and interesting places to visit. But imagine you have just one day in Siena: what are the things you shouldn’t miss, on any account?
This post will help you by highlighting a selection of monuments, churches and building, and providing useful tips.
[Photo Credits: Ondablv]
- Piazza del Campo dominates the city centre and is the starting point of every visit. It is one of the biggest medieval squares in the world and has an unmistakable peculiar shell-shape. Every year on July 2 and August 16 the famous Palio Horse Race takes place here. Since 1300, it has been the center of life in Siena and, an active market and place where the Sienese gathered during important political events, as well as for parties and celebrations. At the top of the square is the Fonte Gaia, one the most beautiful fountains in Siena (the one in the Piazza is a copy, while the remains of the original are preserved in the Museum complex of Santa Maria della Scala).
- Torre del Mangia takes its name from Giovanni di Duccio, its first guardian, whose nickname was “Mangiaguadagni” (literally ‘earning eater’), as he spent all his earnings eating in the taverns of Siena. If you are afraid of heights, you might not want to venture up the 88 meters (400 steps!) of the Torre del Mangia, but you’ll miss a wonderful view. From here the sight is truly breathtaking. You can see all of Siena: Piazza del Campo, the Cathedral a little further away and beyond, the distant hills.
- The Cathedral has a mostly white and black façade. The best part of this church, which is dedicated to the Assumption, is its interior: the floor, full of esoteric symbols and religious stories; the Piccolomini Library with frescoes by Pinturicchio; the Piccolomini Chapel, where Michelangelo worked from 1501 to 1504, carving the statues of the four lower niches. Don’t miss the pulpit by Nicola Pisano, with Biblical scenes and the Life of Jesus.
- The Baptistery. Located just behind the Cathedral, the Baptistery, built in 1325, is one of the most important religious sites in the city. For many centuries all the inhabitants of Siena, famous or not, were baptized under the rib vault of the Baptistery. Inside you can admire frescoes and the bronze and marble baptismal font, located right in the center of the Baptistery.
- The Complex of Santa Maria della Scala used to be an important civic hospital dedicated to caring for abandoned children, the poor, the sick, and pilgrims. Right in front of the majestic Duomo of Siena, the complex is now a museum. In the 1330s Santa Maria della Scala commissioned many important interior and exterior frescoes as well as several significant altar pieces. The whole complex hosts several museums and splendid monumental areas. The museum is spread over four floors.
- The Public Palace of Siena is the place of Siena’s political power: all the rulers of Siena have lived here. In the Palace you can find the Civic Museum of Siena, with its famous frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti representing the Allegory of Good and Bad Government.
- The Civic Museum of Siena contains one of the world’s most famous allegories: the Bad and the Good Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, painted on the walls.
- The Church of San Domenico is characterized by the massive architecture and the relic of the Holy Head of Saint Catherine from Siena. The most important part of the church is the St. Catherine Chapel in the middle of the right nave wall. The chapel has frescoes by Il Sodoma.
- Food in Siena: you can find many traditional dishes in Siena. Wild boar (particularly the Cinta Senese) and hare make for delicious croutons, pappardelle pasta and grilled meat. Then there are local sausages, cheese, liver, ribollita soup and more. Siena and its province also have great wines: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. There is also plenty of choice for dessert: cantucci biscuits, Ricciarelli, Panforte and Cavallucci, accompanied by the classic Vin Santo.
- Siena by night: Siena doesn’t offer the attraction of a big city but, after a day spent visiting museums, churches, palaces up and down the steep streets, you’re unlikely to have the strength or desire to go to a club. I suggest a good dinner at a restaurant and then a slow stroll through the narrow streets.
[Photo Credits: Steve Jurvetson]
Siena is 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Florence and 40 kilometers (25 miles) from San Gimignano. For this reason a lot of tourists combine a visit to one of these other towns with their time in Siena. Siena is situated in the centre-south of Tuscany. It is recommended that you plan your visit in advance because is not directly connected to all cities.
By train The train station is about 3 kilometers from the historic center of Siena. But don’t worry! Close to the train station there is a bus stop and the bus takes you to the centre of the city in about 15 minutes (drop off in Piazza Gramsci or Piazza del Sale). It is better to buy your bus ticket before getting on the bus as it’s cheaper, but then you must remember to validate your ticket inside the bus.
From Florence: direct line and/or change at Empoli (1h30’)
From Rome: change at Chiusi (3h)
From Pisa: change at Empoli (2h)
From Bologna: change at Florence (2h50)
By bus
From Florence: Bus Station: opposite Santa Maria Novella Railway Station ‘rapida bus’ (1h 15mins) ‘diretta bus’ (1h 35 mins) Autolinee TRA-IN spa (tel. +39 0577/204245) http://www.trainspa.it/en/home.html Autolinee SITA (freephone: 800 – 373760) http://www.sitabus.it/
From Rome: Bus Station: Roma Tiburtina, (2h 45m) SENA (freephone: +39 0861 554889)
From Bologna: Airport – terminal arrival: 11.45 / 13.50 Siena Railway station Airport – terminal arrival: 18.45 / 20.50 Siena Railway station
[Photo Credits: Lovro67]
From the North: A1 exit “Firenze Certosa” Dual carriageway Firenze/Siena (40 min.)
From the South: A1 exit “Valdichiana” then Bettolle-Siena link road (2h 30min.)
From Florence: Take the “Autostrada Siena-Firenze” and follow the traffic signs to “Tangenziale Siena Ovest” (towards Arezzo/Grosseto). Exit at “Siena Sud” and follow the road signs to “Porta Romana” or Piazza Gramsci where you can look for paid parking spots.
By plane
From Florence: “Amerigo Vespucci” Airport Shuttle bus to S. Maria Novella railway station every 45 mins
From Pisa: “Galileo Galilei” Airport (150 km)
From Bologna: “G. Marconi” Airport (170 km)
If you want another itinerary of Siena check out this post.
