What to do in Beautiful Siena, Italy

A beautiful city in Tuscany, Siena is only 48 km south of Florence. Like other cities in Italy, Siena is famous for its magnificent architecture. The city started to flourish in the 12th century and reached its golden age in the 13th and 14th centuries. The city was established by the Etruscan tribes, but it became a known town in the Roman period of Emperor Augustus.

Siena began to flourish during the Lombards’ time and became an influential city for many years. Siena was ruled by Pandolfo Petrucci, who was brutal in the era of French and Spanish invasions until he died in 1512, and then his family continued ruling until 1524. After a series of wars and heroic defence, Siena was surrounded in 1555. After two years under the rule of Philip II of Spain, he united the city with Florence. Then, in 1861, Siena was united with the rest of the Italian cities under the new Kingdom of Italy.

If you visit the city, you will see that most of its buildings are made of brick made from the local red clay. Siena has many fantastic attractions; as you walk down its streets, you will see wonderfully decorated buildings, such as the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia. There are also magnificent museums and galleries, such as the Siena Civic Museum and the National Gallery.

Things to Do in Siena and its Important Attractions:

1. Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Cathedral is one of the main attractions in Siena and it is one of the important examples of Gothic architecture in Italy. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was built in the 13th century. It is located in the main square of the city, the Piazza del Duomo, and it was designed by Giovanni Pisano who designed its façade and sculpted most of the statues. Its façade features a plethora of white stone and marble and also some magnificent frescos. Inside, you’ll find polychrome marble arches, an ornate golden dome, and frescos above the main altar.

The Cathedral contains a lot of artistic treasures by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Donatello, Bernini, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Iácopo Della Quercia, Pinturicchio, Giovanni di Turino, Vecchietta, and many more. The works of these artists cover most of the Cathedral, whether it is the walls, ceilings, and floors or the chapels, crypt, and library. One of the exciting things in this complex is the Piccolomini Library—the artwork there is fascinating. You will see the bronze reliefs by Ghiberti and Donatello in the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the carved marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano.

2. Il Palio (Horse Race)

The horse races are one of the famous things that take place in Siena on 2 July or 16 August every year. The race took place for the first time in the 16th century when the racers used to ride buffalos and donkeys.

The race takes place in the Piazza del Campo, with ten horses and their riders, and it is not a must that the riders be on the horses till the finish line and the prize goes to the horse who finishes the race first.

The day of the race also includes a costumed band show, demonstrations of flag throwing, and armoured knights riding through the narrow streets on horseback. During the event, the city becomes flooded with crowds, so if you are visiting the city at this time, make all your reservations before you arrive.

3. Piazza del Campo

The Piazza del Campo is the main square in Siena, and it contains many spectacular buildings, such as Palazzo Púbblico, the city hall, the Fountain of Gaia, and the tower of Mangia.

The Fountain of Gaia is a rectangular fountain basin by Iácopo Della Quercia, created in 1419 and restored in 1868. The original marble reliefs were removed to protect them, but the originals are on display in the Civic Museum.

The Piazza del Campo is a great place to start your tour in Siena. It also has many cafes, restaurants, and shops. The surrounding architecture and great atmosphere make this place an important attraction in the city.

4. Torre del Mangia

Another attraction is the Torre del Mangia, 102 meters tall and located at the Palazzo Pubblico. The tower was constructed by the two brothers Minuccio and Francesco di Rinaldo between 1338 and 1348 at the same time as the palace.

It is characterized by a similar two-tone design with a white stone crown. When you visit this lovely attraction, you can climb to the top of the tower, about 400 steps, and see a magnificent view of the city of Siena and the Tuscan countryside.

5. Palazzo Pubblico

It is one of the most important and fascinating buildings in Siena. Located in the Piazza del Campo, it was built in the 13th century. The exterior is Italian Gothic, with two-tone stone cladding and a plethora of beautiful arched windows.

The interior of the palace has many beautiful frescos, and you will be stunned by the decoration and gorgeous paintings in every room. It was once the headquarters of the Republican Government of Siena.

You will have an unforgettable tour of the palace, with guides leading you there, and you will be able to climb to the top of the Torre del Mangia, which is also in the same place.

6. The Cacciatore

An exciting thing to do in Siena is climb to the top of the Facciatone, the façade of the cathedral that was never finished. It was planned in the 14th century to build a new nave 100 meters long instead of the original one. Still, unfortunately, the construction began to slow down with the onset of the plague, the resulting economic recession, and stability problems with the portions. To climb to the top, you must take a narrow circular stairway and see a great view of the cathedral, Siena, and Tuscan countryside.

7. Siena National Gallery

The Siena National Gallery is located in the Pinacoteca Nazionale, a beautiful palace in Siena, specifically on Via San Pietro in the city centre. Inside the gallery are many collections of artworks by many Sienese Artists dating back to the 12th and 16th centuries.

The artworks include the Raising of Lazarus and Entry into Jerusalem by Guido da Siena and Madonna Enthroned by Lorenzetti. This is an excellent place for art lovers to visit, as it is one of the most important galleries in Siena.

8. Palazzo Salimbeni

An exciting square located in the centre of Siena, three palaces surround the Palazzo Salimbeni which is Palazzo Tantucci has an orange façade with many white framed windows, the Palazzo Salimbeni and the Palazzo Spannocchi, which architect Giuliano da Maiano built. In the old days, the square used to be the garden of Salimbeni Palace, but after that, it was designed to contain tiles and an ornate marble statue.

9. Church of San Domenico

The historic church of San Domenico is in the western part of the city. It was built in 1226 in a Gothic style. The church’s interior design has magnificent decorations, such as the Chapel of Santa Caterina.

The nave has no paths, an enclosed rectangular choir, and a surprisingly high and spacious transept opening onto a pair of chapels flanking the choir. The Chapel of Santa Caterina is on the wall of the nave and contains the Ecstasy of St. Catherine and St. Catherine Fainting and a marble tabernacle by Giovanni di Stéfanon from 1446.

The major nave also contains golden candelabras and altarpieces. It is a place worth visiting and exploring and one of the most beautiful buildings in Siena.

10. Fonte Gaia

This beautiful fountain was built in the 14th century, the water is piped into it from 24 km and it is located at the Piazza del Campo in the middle of the city of Siena. The side reliefs, sculptured from marble, depict scenes from Genesis and some statues resembling wolves representing Romulus and Remus. Also, two columns contain statues of women, which were moved with marble reliefs to the Santa Maria Della Scala museum.

11. San Francesco

The church of San Francesco was built in 1326 but was not completed until 1475. The church’s interior design is painted in alternate bands of black and white that will remind you of the marble facade of the cathedral, and banners of the old craft guilds restore it.

In the church, you will see a fresco of the Crucifixion painted by Pietro Lorenzetti, the frescoes of St. Louis of Toulouse, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Martyrdom of Franciscans at Ceuta, which are amazing.

12. Baptistery of San Giovanni

The Baptistery of San Giovanni is a great attraction in the city of Siena. It was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The interior design is amazing, and it was made in the 14th century in the Gothic style. In the church, there are hexagonal font gilded bronze panels that tell the life of John the Baptist. There are also statues made by Siena’s famous artists, like Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Jacopo Della Quercia.

13. Porta Pispini

The Porta Pispini is known as the gate of the Water Spout; it is a gate where the city in the Middle Ages had a mighty defensive network surrounding the city. The gate is located in the eastern part of Siena and is one of the few remaining gates.

When you visit this location, you will see a double doorway made from stone, and the inner gate still has its wooden frame and doors. While you are there, you can see the city walls and the guard tower.

14. Sanctuary of Santa Caterina

The Sanctuary of Santa Caterina is a religious complex built to honour St. Catherine of Siena, one of the Roman Catholic Church’s most beloved saints. The complex includes several arcades, loggias, and the Church of the Crucified.

One of the known pictures of her is in a fresco by Andrea Vanni in the Church of San Doménico, painted in 1440. The church also contains many decorations and frescos that describe St. Catherine’s life. The Sanctuary of St. Catherine is in the place of her childhood home, and the entrance of the house has the Latin inscription Sponsae Kristi Catherine Domus, which means House of Catherine, Bride of Christ.

15. Medici Fortress

Duke Cosimo built The Medici Fortress between the 16th and 17th centuries to stop any revolution from the people of Siena when the Florentine ruled. The fort is beside the Artemio Franchi Stadium in the western part of Siena. The Medici Fortress comprises four triangular defensive towers and a large central walled area. Concerts and festivals are often held in the fort as well.

16. Siena Civic Museum

The museum is located in the Palazzo Pubblico, containing many lovely artworks and artefacts from Siena. Also, some frescos were painted inside the palace. The central fresco is called Good and Bad Government; it describes the different sides of local government in Siena’s history.

The Siena Civic Museum also has a fresco of the Madonna on the throne with Child. It is a nice place to visit for families, as children can look at the lively coloured paintings.

17. Santa Maria degli Servi

One of the other well-known churches in Siena is the Santa Maria Degli Servi, located in the southeast of the city and built in the 13th century. When you visit the church, you will find that the facade was left unfinished. The Romanesque campanile has four layers of windows, and they increase as you go to the top, so it can be like a tapered shape.

In the church, there are many wonderful artworks, like the Madonna del Bordone by Coppo di Marcovaldo from 1261 and Pietro Lorenzetti’s Slaughter of the Innocents from the 14th century. The altar is Lippo Memmi’s Madonna del Pópolo.

18. Metropolitan Opera Museum

The Metropolitan Opera Museum has become part of the cathedral, but construction stopped in 1348 due to the Black Death (the plague). The museum contains gorgeous works by Donatello and Ducci. There is a shining altarpiece called Maesta, which was created by Siena artists. You can also climb rolling narrow steps to the top for a fantastic view of Siena.

19. Piccolomini Library

Inside the cathedral of Siena, there is a wonderful treasure called the Piccolomini Library, which has an interior dating back to the 16th century. The library was built for Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II. He made his nephew grace the library’s construction, and after that, he became Pope Pius III.

In the library, you will find many decorative manuscripts, but the important thing to see there is the fabulous frescoes painted by Pinturicchio. The frescoes present 10 different scenes linked to Pope Pius II’s life and career.

20. Oratory of San Bernardino

The Oratory of San Bernardino is located beside Basilica di San Francesco, a 10-minute walk from the cathedral and many other churches. It was built in the 15th century in the same place where the Franciscan friar San Bernardino of Siena often preached. It is a lovely place to explore, and you will find many beautiful paintings from the 13th century till the 19th century. There are valuable religious paintings by artists, such as Sano di Pietro, Pietro Lorenzetti, and Jacopo Della Quercia, and the impressive thing in the chapel is the frescoes on its wall by Sodoma, Doménico Beccafumi, and Girólamo del Pacchia that shows the life of the Virgin and various saints.

21. Santa Maria Della Scala

It is opposite the cathedral, built in the 13th century and called the Church of the Santíssima Annunziata. The Santa Maria Della Scala was rebuilt in the 15th century by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, and it was a former hospital and one of the first hospitals in Europe.

At first, the hospital served as a home for abandoned children, fed the poor, and offered food and lodging to pilgrims. It always received donations from Siena’s wealthy figures. Inside, you will find a large fresco painted by Sebastiano Conca that shows the sick awaiting miraculous healing at the Pool of Bethesda. At the altar, you will find a bronze Risen Christ by Lorenzo Vecchietta from 1476.

22. The Restaurant Tar Tufo

After visiting all these exciting sights and attractions, you should relax and enjoy an excellent place to have a delicious meal, so the restaurant Tar Tufo is a good choice.

The restaurant is located in the southern part of Siena, and its menu contains lovely Italian dishes like Antipasti, lamb, pasta, and seafood. You can also enjoy a glass of wine with your meal while viewing the southern farmland of Siena as you dine.

24. Arezzo

Arezzo is an old Roman military base that has attracted artists since its early days. It is an hour from Siena by bus. The church contains frescoes, terra cotta work, marble carvings, altar paintings, goldwork, enamels, and magnificent stained glass windows.

Other attractions in Arezzo include the Cimabue Crucifix in the church of San Doménico and the fresco cycle by Piero Della Francesca in the church of San Francesco.

25. Abbey of Sant Ántimo

The Abbey of Sant Antimo is about 40 km south of Siena. It was built by Charlemagne and grew quickly until it was dissolved in 1462. One of the exciting things there is the church, which was built in a Romanesque style between the 12th and 13th centuries.

If you enter the church, you will see the nave with aisles but no crossing transept and an ambulatory with radiating chapels. The entrance is decorated with a simple façade, and the capitals in the nave are carved with Romanesque plant and animal motifs alternating with interlace patterns. A crypt also consists of three passages from the 11th century.

26. San Gimignano

Another place near Siena is San Gimignano, which is famous for its 13 tall towers, more than other Tuscan hill towns. When you are in this beautiful place, you will find the towers in a square shape, built as fortified homes and later became status icons for rival noble families.

Most of these towers are located near the town’s main square, Piazza Della Cisterna; others are on Via del Castello, and two are in Piazza del Duomo. There is also a church called Santa Maria Assunta, built in a Romanesque style in the 12th century and enlarged in the 15th century.

When you visit the church, you will be fascinated by its shining interior, which features a collection of fresco cycles. You can reach San Gimignano by train or bus.

27. Monte Oliveto Maggiore

This place has the famous monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, built in 1313 by Bernardo Tolomei. Then, it developed into a thriving monastery, enlarged many times, and became a centre of spiritual and cultural life until now. When you are there, you will enter through a gate tower built in 1393 with terra-cotta reliefs by the school of Luca Della Robbia.

The monastery has some wonderful frescoes that show 35 scenes from the life of St. Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order. Nine of these scenes were done by Luca Signorelli in 1479, and the rest were done by Sodoma after 1505.

The 15th-century church also has some magnificent works, like its choir stalls and 125 individual works of art created in intricate wood inlay by Giovanni da Verona. You can have a great tour there with a monk guiding you.

28. Fortress of Montalcino

It is a little town located inside walls on a hilltop above the rivers Ombrone and Asso. In the same place in the old ages, there was a dominion in Etruscan and Roman times and the walls standing now were built by the Sienese in 1361.

This fortress is a beautiful place to visit. You can explore it and walk around the walls with their six gates and remaining towers. Also, from the castle, you can see a wonderful view of the Tuscan countryside. The church of Sant’Agostino, built in the 14th century, is also worth visiting. You can see the Gothic doorway and the frescoes in the choir.

29. Chiesa dell’Osservanza

In another small, beautiful town not far from Siena, you will find the Church of the Observance, which was built in 1476 by architect Giácomo Cozzarelli. The church was seriously damaged in World War II, but it was rebuilt in its original form.

The church has eight side chapels. In the third chapel is the 15th-century Reliquary of San Bernardino by Francesco d’Antonio. In the fourth chapel is a triptych, Madonna with SS Ambrose and Jerome, by an artist called Maestro dell’Osservanza.

30. Florence

It is easy to reach this wonderful city either by car or train for a quick day trip, but parking is difficult in the city, so the train would be a good choice. Florence is near the city of Siena, and there are many attractions to visit, most of which date back to the Renaissance era.

These wonderful attractions are Brunelleschi’s soaring dome in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ghiberti’s bronze doors in the Baptistery, the many art collections of the Uffizi Gallery, and Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Church of San Lorenzo.

31. Abbey of San Galgano

The abbey of San Galgano was built in 1218 in the hilly country at the foot of Montesiepi. The church is a classic example of the austere Cistercian style made in France but wasn’t popular in Italy. It was built partly in travertine and partly in brick, and even though parts of it were destroyed, it is still impressive. A nearby attraction is Monte Siepi, where you can see the frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

32. Abbadia San Salvatore

San Salvator is one of the famous attractions in Tuscany. It is also one of the oldest religious houses there, and in the old days, it was the wealthiest place in Italy. It was established in 743 by a Lombard chieftain and was home to the Benedictines, Camaldolese, and Cistercians.

The interesting thing there is the cellar, which was built in 1036. The vaulting rises on columns of various shapes and styles, many of them with exceptional carved stone capitals. The town still has the character of the Middle Ages, which belonged to the Médici family.

33. Have a Drink at Un Tubo

The bar of Un Tubo has a great selection of wine and live jazz music. It is located near the Piazza del Campo. The interior of the bar is dimly lit, which makes you feel right at home. It hosts exhibits of contemporary art and live jazz music. If you like this kind of music, I’m sure you will love this place, and it is definitely worth visiting in Siena.

How to Get to Siena

If you are travelling by plane, the nearest airports are Peretola Airport in Florence and Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa. There are also daily bus routes between Siena and Bologna, as well as Florence, Rome, and Milan. You can also go by train from both Pisa and Florence and change at Empoli.

Siena railway station is located at the lower part of a long hill outside the city walls. If you go by car, you are not allowed to drive in the city centre as there is plenty of car parking outside the city walls. If you are moving to Siena, there are car parks called La Fortezza and Il Campo, which are close to the city centre.

Places to Stay in Siena

1. Relais degli Angeli

It is a lovely hotel in the old town, just near Piazza del Campo. The decoration is gorgeous, and the ceilings are frescoed. The breakfast there is quite tasty.

2. Grand Hotel Continental Siena

The hotel is located in a grand palace built in the 17th century. It is a 5-star hotel in the centre of the town. The rooms and suites are lovely and have frescoed ceilings and original artwork.

3. Hotel Santa Caterina

It is a 3-star hotel located in a small and cosy aristocratic villa near the town’s gates. You can have an excellent breakfast on the terrace with a fantastic countryside view.

4. Hotel Athena

The hotel is located 19 minutes from the Siena cathedral, with a great view over the Tuscan hills from its terrace and some of its rooms. The hotel restaurant offers some delicious Sienese dishes.

Siena is undoubtedly another wonderful city in Italy, where you can visit many attractions or go on quick one-day trips to many nearby towns or places. You will enjoy a great tour there with friends and family, visiting ornately decorated churches, museums, palaces, art galleries, and beautiful landscapes. I hope you will have a pleasant stay in Siena and enjoy a great vacation in this cosy Italian city.