Siena

Travel and Tourist Information

 Siena Index

ABOVE: The sun breaks through the clouds to illuminate Siena's skyline and make a rainbow. From my Siena Photo Gallery, which has 113 pictures with captions.

Siena (often mispelled "Sienna") may be the best-preserved medieval city in Italy, thanks to its conquest by Florence nearly 500 years ago. While the Florentines were busy launching the Renaissance, the Senese played the role of country cousins--and as a result, Siena (or at least the walled portion of the city) still looks much as it did in the Middle Ages.

Many tourists regard Siena as being worth a day trip from Florence or a half-day stopover on a tour of rural Tuscany. That's a mistake. You should allow at least two days to visit Siena's major churches and museums, plus another day simply to enjoy the unique atmosphere of this historic but lively university town.

On the following pages, you'll find tourist tips and dozens of links to tourism sites, hotel Web pages, and other online resources for Siena. The captions in my Siena Photo Gallery have more information. A number of Florence and Tuscany guidebooks have chapters on Siena. Lonely Planet: Tuscany is especially good.

Once you arrive in Siena, buy one or both of these sightseeing guides:

Siena: New Practical Guide
Bonechi Edizioni publishes this 124-page paperback, which has 150 color photos. The book focuses on churches, museums, and other sights, with a few pages of hotel and restaurant listings in the back. Price: ITL 8000 or EUR 4.13 at souvenir shops and newsstands.

Siena: The Gothic Dream
Edizione Alsaba of Siena is responsible for this handsome, oversized guide to the city's history, monuments, and art. The book divides the city into three itineraries and is packed with beautiful photos and reproductions of artwork. An attractive map, suitable for framing, is tucked inside the back cover. Price: ITL 25000 or EUR 12.91 at bookstores, including the English-language section of the Libreria Senese on the Via di Cittą.

I'd also recommend a good map--preferably the 1:5000 Siena city map from Freytag & Berndt, which should be available at large bookstores throughout Europe.

On page 2 of this article, you'll find advice on reaching Siena from Florence or Rome. Also see the "Related articles and pictures" table below for links to more Siena information at Europe for Visitors.

Page 2 - Getting to Siena

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