Siena

Siena

Central Italy

Tuscany

Siena (province)

Siena Siena is a walled city in Tuscany , known for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and a colourful horse race, Il Palio , conducted twice each year in the summer. Siena's centro storico , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is extremely picturesque, and from high towers, you can see the beautiful countryside that still largely surrounds the city. With a few notable exceptions (including the pretty yellow colour of the sunflowers that are cultivated for oil for export), the Sienese countryside looks almost the same as it did in Medieval paintings. Siena is 70 km (43 mi) south of Florence .

By plane Most travellers arriving by plane will land at

Florence Airport ( FLR IATA ) near Florence or

Pisa International Airport ( PSA IATA ) near Pisa . Buses of the Sena line connect Siena with the

Marconi Airport ( BLQ IATA ) (twice daily, 2½ hours) near Bologna , a favourite with the discount carriers. There is also a bus link to Pisa International Airport. By train From the north, trains go about hourly directly from Florence to Siena, and otherwise it is possible to take any train that stops in Empoli and find train connections from Empoli to Siena every 30–60 minutes. The ticket from Florence SMN costs €10.20 (October 2023). From the south, including Rome , direct connections to Siena depart from Chiusi or from Grosseto . Siena's

Train Station is approximately 2 km from the city's historical centre — a five-minute bus ride — and buses leave regularly from Piazza del Sale. Buses #3, 8, 10, 17 and 77 leave from the station to Piazza del Sale and bus #17 departs from Piazza del Sale for the train station. You can also walk to the centre in about 20–30 minutes: exit the train station and go through the Porta Siena shopping centre (which is open 08:00-21:00), go up the escalators at the far end to Level 2, and continue up the moving sidewalks and escalators to Via Vittorio Emanuele; turn left and walk about 500 m to the Porta Camollia city gate, and follow the road into the city. By bus By far the easiest way to get to Siena from Florence (though the train journey is much more picturesque) is to take the Tiemme SpA bus (depart from a small underground bus depot across the street, to the west of Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence). After 1 hr 20 min it will eventually drop you off at Piazza Garibaldi which is located well within the walls of the city, allowing for an easy walk to any of the city's attractions. For the return journey, buses depart from Piazza Gramsci. The cost is €8.40 (May 2019). Connections are also available from Rome (3 hr), Perugia (1 hr 20 min) and various other cities.

Bus station , Piazza Antonio Gramsci, 26 . Luggage storage is available at the underground floor, €5.5 per bag, 09:00 - 19:00. (The train station doesn't have luggage storage facilities.) ( updated May 2019 ) By car From the north, take the Chiantigiana from Florence (SS 222 – 72 km) that elegantly crosses the hills of Chianti or the highway (SS 2 superstrada Siena/Firenze - 68 km). From the south, Siena can be reached by taking the Autostrada from Rome (A1 Roma-Firenze, exit Valdichiana), and turning right on state highway #326 (Bettolle-Siena - 240 km). Relatively cheap parking can be found near the Fortezza Medicea, northwest of the city stadium, and around it.

By car The centre of Siena is accessible only on foot . Cars (other than taxis, police, etc.) are strictly prohibited; motorcycles and scooters are OK, though. Patrons of the central hotels are allowed to drive up and unload the luggage (and then get out), but only by obtaining one-time permission slips from the hotel front desk beforehand (also have them draw the route for you on a map and follow it to the letter. If you miss a turn, it may be wiser to head out the nearest gate, get on the circumferential road just outside the walls, return to the starting point and try again). Have this pass handy if stopped by police while driving within the walls, or, in a pinch, at least a confirmation of your reservation. Don't rush your turns, and swing wide like a truck, as you would be sometimes required to fit between two stone walls into an opening just slightly wider than your vehicle. For more information, contact "Siena Parcheggi" tel. 0577-228711. To call or reserve a taxi , telephone the Central Reservation Office at 0577-49222. Siena may be the only city in Mediterranean Europe where parking is not a massive headache, though charges have increased dramatically in the past few years and you can expect to pay €40 or more per day for the more convenient spots. The huge parking lots around the Fortezza and the adjacent football stadium are no longer free, but on the other hand, you can now count on finding a space there almost anytime; there is free parking further out, with minibus service, from Due Ponti and Coroncina (beyond Porta Romana). By bus Google maps shows the location of all bus stops within the city. If you zoom in and click the bus symbol on the map, you will get a list of bus routes serving that stop. There are several small buses (Pollicino) run by the TRA-IN company that cover some streets located in the centre and several bus lines to and from the outskirts of town. Bus tickets cost €1.50 per fare (as of May 2019) when bought at kiosks/tabacchi but are more expensive when bought from the driver. The website for Siena Mobilità has bus schedules (orari) for routes within Siena. On foot Siena is a city (a small city, yes, but it isn't like one of the tiny hill towns) and the attractions away from the Campo/Duomo area are spread out on three steep hills, so walking is a necessity. You will understand why Italians can eat so much and not get fat, when you see old women carrying groceries up a long street with a 30-degree incline. If you are tired, check to see if you can get to your destination by walking along a ridge, rather than going in a straight line down a hill and back up.

Siena's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site . Piazza del Campo This unique shell-shaped piazza is the centre of the city, and twice a year functions as the racetrack for the Palio (see "Do" below). It is beautiful and striking in itself and also lined by some of the most famous and beautiful Gothic buildings in town.

Palazzo Pubblico ( Town Hall ), Piazza del Campo, 1 , ☏ +39 0577 292111 . 10:00-18:00 . This striking structure has functioned as Siena's City Hall for almost 800 years and is probably the building that most recognizably represents Siena. It contains (among many other things) the famous frescoes on good and bad government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, frescoes by Simone Martini and Duccio, and access to the Torre del Mangia , from the top of which you can view a beautiful panorama of the Sienese countryside. The frescoes on good and bad government and their effects on the city and surrounding countryside (painted 1338-1339), probably Ambrogio Lorenzetti's greatest masterpieces, are in the Sala dei Nove, where the Council of Nine who ruled the city state in the early 14th century could see them and, it was hoped, would keep them close to mind while making important decisions. These frescoes and Duccio's Maestà in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo are the most important paintings in Siena and for many people represent highlights of a visit to this city, but there are many other beautiful things to see in the Palazzo Pubblico, so allow some time (preferably a couple of hours) to view them all. This building's exterior is equally beautiful and includes a lovely marble chapel, the Cappella di Piazza , which is at the foot of the Torre di Mangia. Built in 1352, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, as was the entire city after it avoided annihilation in the devastating black plague of 1348. ( updated Jun 2017 )

Palazzo Piccolomini ( Piccolomini Palace ), Banchi di Sotto , ☏ +39 0577 40563 . One of the most popular sites on the Piazza del Campo, it was built in 1459 by the well-known architect Bernardo Rossellino, disciple of Leon Battista Alberti. This Florentine-style palazzo is home to the official archives of Siena. ( updated Jun 2017 )

Palazzo Sansedoni ( Sansedoni Palace ), Il Campo, 58 . Opposite the Palazzo Pubblico, it is another beautiful Gothic building on the Campo. ( updated Jun 2017 )

Fonte Gaia ( Gaia Fountain ), Il Campo, 21 . The fountain sculpted in 1419 by the great Sienese sculptor, Jacopo della Quercia, is a focal point of the piazza. The remains of the original sculptures can be viewed in the loggia of the Palazzo Pubblico (see above), but the appearance of the fountain, composed of copies made in 1858, is not bad and remains a major sight in this city. ( updated Jun 2017 ) Other major sights

Duomo di Siena ( Siena Cathedral ), Piazza del Duomo, 8 , ☏ +39 0577 286300 , [email protected] .

The Palio di Siena, a bareback horse race around Piazza del Campo, is held on 2 July and 16 August. Each of the 17 contrade (neighbourhood wards) competes for the painted banner. Outside race days, explore the contrada museums and chapels, climb the Torre del Mangia for panoramic views, or simply wander the medieval lanes between the Campo and the Duomo.

Sienese cuisine features Tuscan classics: pici (thick hand-rolled pasta), ribollita (bread-and-vegetable soup), and bistecca alla fiorentina. Local sweets include panforte, ricciarelli, and cavallucci. Trattorias and osterias in the backstreets off the main piazze serve the most authentic meals.

Siena sits at the edge of the Chianti wine region. Local wines include Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino (from the nearby hills), and Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Enotecas and wine bars around the city offer tastings by the glass.

Hotels, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfast establishments offer accommodation. Advance booking is recommended during peak season.

Siena's seasonal confectionery tradition produces panforte (dense fruit-and-nut cake), ricciarelli (almond cookies), and cavallucci (spiced cookies). Shops around Piazza del Campo and the streets leading to the Duomo sell these alongside local ceramics and reproductions of medieval artwork.

Florence is 70 km north via the SS2 superstrada or the scenic Chiantigiana (SS222). San Gimignano, the Chianti wine region, and the Crete Senesi clay hills are all within an hour's drive. Bus and train services connect Siena to most Tuscan cities.