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A living testament to Italy’s medieval past, Siena is Italy’s best preserved medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a wonderful showcase of Gothic architecture. Its incredible preservation owes much to historical circumstance and its loss of wealth, power and influence to arch-rival Florence following the city's devastation by the Black Death in 1348. Siena's abrupt decline halted further development and unlike many of Italy’s other historical cities, it escaped the blight of large scale development projects and retains a magical atmosphere that continues to enchant to this day. Easily reached from Florence, it makes a rewarding day trip from the Eternal City.
Italy specialist CarolineSometimes overshadowed by Florence, Siena has its own charms. For example, the Piazza del Campo is the setting for the biannual Palio, but it’s also where locals come to relax and eat their picnic lunch.
What to see and do in Siena
Duomo
One of the finest churches in Italy, Siena's duomo (cathedral) was meant to rival that of nearby Florence, but its intricately decorated interiors surpass it in every way. Siena was Italy’s most important pre-Medici banking hub and wealthy medieval merchants poured money into the project. The intricate floor mosaics, elaborate sculptures and vivid frescoes were completed by the leading artists of the day: the pulpit by Pisano, sculptures by Donatello and a cornucopia of significant works by other medieval artists. Plans to build an even more elaborate cathedral were never completed but you can get the most staggering views from the top of the Facciatone, the unfinished façade of the new building.
Il Campo
Perched across three hills, Siena’s historic core is linked by a trio of thoroughfares that intersect at the stunning red-bricked Piazza del Campo. Il Campo, as it is known locally, is often described as Italy’s most captivating square and was built on the site of a Roman marketplace. On its lower side is the imposing Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) with its towering Torre del Mangia from where you'll get a far-reaching view over the city. Today, the square still acts as a meeting place and its many cafés are a great place to sit and just watch the world go by.
Palio
Each year the Piazza del Campo plays host to the historic Siena Palio, a bareback horse race between the city’s rival contrade (districts). The race dates back to the 17th century and each contrade has its own symbols, traditions and costumes making it a glorious spectacle for the thousands of people who come to watch. The event takes place twice a year on July 2 and August 16, and the ten riders parade around the square in their costumes before racing three exhilarating laps around a specially-constructed dirt track. It's an electrifying event, keenly awaited by local people so book well in advance.
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Suggested itineraries featuring Siena
Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Siena, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Siena
- San Gimignano 18 miles away
- Florence 32 miles away
- Pisa 55 miles away
- Perugia 56 miles away
- Orvieto 58 miles away
- Umbria 65 miles away
- Assisi 68 miles away
- Forte dei Marmi 74 miles away
- Bologna 82 miles away
- Ravenna 88 miles away
- Porto Venere 91 miles away
- Modena 95 miles away
- Cinque Terre 97 miles away
- Parma 115 miles away
- Rome 115 miles away
- Portofino and Santa Margherita 126 miles away
- Genoa 141 miles away
- Verona 148 miles away
- Sirmione 154 miles away
- Venice 155 miles away
- Lake Garda 162 miles away
- Gardone Riviera 164 miles away
- Costa Smeralda 179 miles away
- Milan 183 miles away
- Barbaresco 189 miles away
- Alba 190 miles away
- Barolo 191 miles away
- Madonna di Campiglio 203 miles away
- Como 205 miles away
- Blevio 206 miles away
- Torno 207 miles away
- Laglio 208 miles away
- Lezzeno 210 miles away
- Bellagio 211 miles away
- Tremezzo 213 miles away
- Lake Como 214 miles away
- Piedmont 215 miles away
- Dolomites 216 miles away
- Turin 218 miles away
- Ischia 224 miles away
- Stresa 225 miles away
- Verbania 227 miles away
- Lake Maggiore 227 miles away
- Alta Badia 228 miles away
- Naples 228 miles away
- Herculaneum 233 miles away
- Pompeii 242 miles away
- Capri 243 miles away
- Sorrento 244 miles away
- The Amalfi Coast 251 miles away
- Sardinia 252 miles away
Photos of Siena
Our expert guides to exploring Siena
Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Siena, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Siena at its best.
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Food highlights of Italy Food highlights of Italy
Food highlights of Italy
Italy specialist Caroline talks about her love of Italian food in this guide, focusing on the more renowned culinary cities and regions. She also talks about her experiences of creating pasta, catching fresh fish for dinner in Sorrento, wine tasting in Tuscany's Chianti region and where to eat like a local.
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A guide to the regions of Italy A guide to the regions of Italy
A guide to the regions of Italy
A tour of a private palazzo, or a cooking class with a Sorrento grandmother? We highlight the major sights and unearth lesser-known attractions for some of our best-loved Italian regions, spotlighting tours that really explore their character.
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Accommodation choices for Siena
We've selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit Siena. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.
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Grand Hotel Continental
Siena