Siena - in the middle of Tuscany

Arrival

I have to be honest, getting to Siena is not very easy - especially if you arrive by plane. We flew to Florence by plane and from there we took the train to Siena. But first you must take the tram from the airport to the main station of Florence. This journey takes about 20 minutes. From the main station to Siena it takes another 1.5 hours. Unfortunately, the trains are not always on time. Check the current timetable on the Trenitalia app beforehand.

Travelling by car is probably easier and makes sense if you are on a tour of Tuscany anyway. 

Duomo di Siena

Let's start with my favorite sight in Siena. The Duomo, which is a must-see. You should plan some time for the visit because there are countless art treasures to marvel at. My tip for you, buy the ticket with the name Opa Si Pass. This ticket gives you access to all areas. You can buy your ticket at the office in front of the Duomo or online in advance. 

Even from the outside, this building is incredibly beautiful, but what I encountered inside totally impressed me. A special feature of the Siena Cathedral is its floor. It consists of ornate marble slabs - a unique work of art worldwide. It took an incredible six centuries to complete. Through the main entrance of the cathedral, you reach the next sight, the Biblioteca Piccolomini, located in a side wing. It has beautiful drawings on the walls. Diagonally opposite the cathedral museum, you can enter the crypt via a separate entrance on the eastern side of the cathedral. Curiously, this was only discovered in 1999 during a renovation. The Museo dell'Opera della Metropolitana, or simply known as the Cathedral Museum, is located right next to the cathedral in the Duomo. This museum, which was founded in 1869, is an exhibition of collected original works from the cathedral.

Piazza del Campo

At the heart of the old town is the Piazza del Campo. It is semicircular and slopes slightly and consists of old red-brown townhouses. There are countless restaurants on the Piazza. I really enjoyed sitting there, eating something delicious and watching what was going on. Especially in the warm season, countless visitors sit here and enjoy the unique magic that surrounds this square. 

Twice a year, on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August, the Plazza del Campo hosts the controversial horse race, which is called Palio di Siena. The Palio is much more than a horse race. The inhabitants compete in one of Europe’s most famous and at the same time toughest races. Unsaddled horses and medieval costumes, flag-wavers and drummers, ancient rituals, and the unbridled emotions of tens of thousands of people characterize the Palio.

Fortezza Medicea

If you want to have a great view of the whole cityscape, I recommend going to the historic fortress Fortezza Medicea. You can take a leisurely stroll up there and enjoy the awesome view. Up there you will mainly meet joggers and walkers.

The Fortezza Medicea is about a 20-minute walk from the Piazza del Campo, in the north-west of the old town.

Orto botanico

If you like to take a break from the city noise, I can recommend the Orto botanico. It's a bit outside the city, but still within walking distance.

The botanical garden extends over two and a half hectares in the middle of the city of Siena. More than 2,000 plant species are cultivated here to promote research, but also environmental awareness. The entire garden with its park is laid out in the style of Italian gardens of the 19th century. It houses numerous specimens, many of which are rare or of considerable size.

What I would also like to mention at this point. When we arrived in the garden, there was a cat outside that looked very emaciated. She was looking for food everywhere, even trying to eat leaves and stones. When we were in the garden, this image we encountered haunted us. So, we decided to help this cat and got her some food. It is absolutely clear to me that you should not feed strange animals. But don't look away when an animal is in such a condition.

Other attractions

There are so many beautiful sights to admire in Siena, not to mention the location, nestled in a picturesque hilly landscape, and the lively Italian temperament that you can feel here. A stay in Siena will provide you with a wealth of art, culture, and history - impressions you won't soon forget.

As usual, I have not listed all the sights in the travel report, only the points that I was able to experience myself and that I liked very much. But here are some more impressions of the city. 

Hotel & Restaurant

We spent the nights at the Hotel Minerva. The hotel is very well located and the people who work there are very nice. As our flight was cancelled 2 days before departure and we had to arrive on a different day, we asked the hotel if there was a possibility to get to the hotel a day earlier. Actually, the hotel was fully booked, but they organized a small room for us to stay in. I found this very nice. One negative point, the walls are very thin. You can hear the person next to you and all the noises coming from the corridor. 

In general, in Siena you often eat a so-called Primi Piatti, which is an appetizer. Afterwards, you take a Secondi Piatti, which is often eaten with meat. Since the portions are usually too big for me, I limited myself to a small salad and a pasta dish.

A great restaurant with local cuisine is the Salefino restaurant. There are mainly young people working there and they were extremely friendly. You won't find the pizza and pasta you know from home. But a holiday is also about trying new things. A typical recipe for Siena is the Pici. These are rustic spaghetti made by hand from water, flour and oil. Be sure to try it when you're there.

Another nice restaurant was the ristorante il salotto. I had a great caprese salad and a vegetable lasagna there. I also liked the location very much.

And of course, there is one thing when you’re in Italy, what you must do. Eating ice cream! I think it’s the best ice cream in the world. Which is the best gelateria in Siena is certainly debatable. But we got a tip from a local that the best gelateria is la Vecchia Latteria. 

Currency and means of payment

In Siena you pay in Euro (EUR). You can pay everywhere with credit cards. It is accepted as a means of payment in all shops, Restaurant or Hotels.

Language

The official language is Italian.