Siena is one of those cities we fall in love with. Located in the heart of Tuscany, the city maintains intact its medieval old town with narrow alleys, beautiful palaces and large squares framed in a beautiful landscape surrounded by hills. One of our most active users, Raúl Aguilar, proposes a half day walking tour to explore this beautiful place, as their small size allows complete visit in just a few hours.
1. The Duomo or Cathedral of Siena is a medieval cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. Designed on an earlier structure, it was completed between 1215 and 1263 and it contains works of the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
2. The Opera del Duomo Museum is the main museum in the city and houses mainly the sculptures were removed from the cathedral of Siena, as well as some paintings.
3. At Piazza Il Campo, which is fan-shaped, the Palazzo Pubblico is located and it is also the venue of the famous horse race, the Palio delle contrade, which usually takes place twice a year.
4. The Public Palace is situated in the central Piazza del Campo. This medieval building with Gothic influences was completed in the fourteenth century to house the republican government, but in the end it was used as City Hall. Its famous bell tower known as Torre del Mangia was built to exceed in height the tower of Florence, the tallest structure in Italy at that time.
5. The church of San Domenico in Siena is a spacious Gothic church within which the frescoes on the life of St. Catherine of Siena and the Renaissance tabernacle, with the remains of the saint.
6. The Via Banchi di Sopra is the shopping street in the town. Near it we can find the small Salimbeni and Tolomei squares, where you will find beautiful and imposing palaces of various styles and eras.
7. At Via di Città we can admire the Lodge of the Merchants and the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini, which houses a famous music academy.
If you also want to live the medieval atmosphere of the city, you can stay in any hotels in Siena, where you will find from cheap hostels as Bed & Breakfast Camollia to luxurious medieval palaces as the Residenza d’Epoca Palazzo Fani Mignanelli in which to spend the night.
Tags: home, italy, p2317, siena, siena travel guide, tour, tuscany, walking tour
