Siena (province) Voyage Tips and guide

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Siena is a province of the Tuscany Region of Italy with a rich heritage of art, architecture and landscapes, supported by four UNESCO heritage sites: San Gimignano, Siena, Pienza and the Val d'Orcia.

43°14′17″N 11°23′14″E

Map of Siena (province)

• 43.31861111.3305561 Siena — its centro storico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is extremely picturesque, and from high towers, you can see the beautiful countryside that still largely surrounds the city
• 43.46916711.2886112 Castellina
• 43.01666711.6166673 Castiglione d'Orcia — its fortified tower from the Middle Ages offers a spectacular 360-degree view over the Val d'Orcia area
• 43.06666711.8333334 Chianciano Terme — known for its therapeutic springs that have been healing Romans since ancient times
• 43.43422711.3998855 Lecchi in Chianti
• 43.0511.4833336 Montalcino — a quiet Hilltop town known for its Brunello wine
• 43.111.7833337 Montepulciano — a hilltop town known for its eponymous wine
• 43.39000311.2233198 Monteriggioni — Italy's best-preserved completely walled medieval town
• 43.07861111.6788899 Pienza — considered to be the "touchstone of Renaissance urbanism
• 43.28333311.610 Rapolano Terme — has two ancient thermal spas: San Giovanni and Antica Querciolaia
• 43.46811.04211 San Gimignano — a pretty medieval walled city, famous for its historic centre with beautiful towers

• 43.0283711.619421 Bagno Vignoni — attracts both Italian and foreign tourism with its charming natural landscape and thermal springs
• 42.9311.7013892 Bagni San Filippo — a small hot spring containing calcium carbonate deposits
• 43.17583311.5591673 Chiusure — the area around Chiusure is filled with majestic cypresses and has among the finest views in all of Tuscany
• 43.14090211.6645964 Castelmuzio — a small charming town, worth a visit
• 43.26666711.055 Radicondoli — has a ruined castle dating back to the year 1000
• 43.48333311.3833336 Radda in Chianti — a mediaeval town enclosed in city walls
• 43.06666711.67 San Quirico d'Orcia — the Leonini Gardens on the ancient ramparts date from 1581
• 43.14611111.9022228 Valiano — it hosts a palio, a horse-and-cart race every
• 43.12777811.7461119 Montefollonico — a mediaeval hilltop town that is off the tourist path and it still looks the way it did in the 13th century

There are many charming places to visit in the Province of Siena. If you have limited time, the city of Siena is the highlight, and you can easily take 3-5 days to see all the sights there if you so desire. However, if you have more than a few days, make sure to go to San Gimignano, if nowhere else. It's much smaller in area and population than Siena and, with its towers and panoramic view over the countryside, gives the visitor a different experience of a walled Medieval city. Also, because of its small area, a reasonably able bodied person can walk from one end of San Gimignano to the other in 20 minutes, and while it has fewer and smaller attractions than Siena, they are of great quality. Pienza is of special interest to fans of Gothic architecture, because it was completely redesigned as a Gothic village in honor of native son Pope Pius II in the 15th century. If a beautiful rustic monastery with frescoes by Michelangelo's teacher appeals to you, go to the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore in the tiny village of Chiusure.

• Province of Siena website

• The Duomo di Siena is a magnificent black and white Italian Romanesque cathedral includes the Libreria Piccolomini, with splendid frescoes by Pinturicchio, the lovely Baptistery, and an attached museum.
• The Palazzo Pubblico is a striking structure has functioned as Siena's City Hall for almost 800 years. It is probably the building that most recognizably represents Siena. There us a lovely marble chapel, the Cappella di Piazza, at the foot of the Torre di Mangia.
• The Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico is a large, austere Gothic basilica dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena and to St. Dominic. It features several works by Sienese Gothic painters and impressively high vaulted ceilings.
• Santa Maria della Scala museum is chock-full of medieval art including altarpieces by Bartolommeo Bulgarini and frescoes by the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale exhibits some important archaeological finds from the area, anr items from public and private collections of antiquities.
• The Fonte Gaia fountain, sculpted in 1419 by the great Sienese sculptor, Jacopo della Quercia, is a focal point of the piazza.
• The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena is full of Sienese paintings from the city's mediaeval heyday.
• The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo includes the famous Maestà by Duccio and many other great works by Sienese masters. After you've seen all the art, you can also treat yourself to a beautiful panorama from Il Facciatone, the tower in this building. The view is about as good as the one from the Torre del Mangia in the Palazzo Pubblico but somewhat different, although if you are rushed for time, pick one tower to climb (either one).
• Abbey of Sant'Antimo in Montalcino is an ancient and still functioning Benedictine abbey. The abbey dates to at least the 9th century.
• San Biagio Church in Montepulciano is a wonderful Renaissance church with soaring nave & dome, with a challenging walk from the church to the town centre.

It can be very difficult finding a good restaurant open between the hours of about 14:00 to 19:00.

Vegetarians and vegans should have no problem eating in Siena as staff at Italian restaurants tend to be very accommodating. Try ribollita, a regional specialty vegetable soup. 100 percent vegan and delicious. Pizza in Italy (and authentic Italian restaurants elsewhere) has no dairy products or eggs in the dough.

This is Chianti wine country. You will have no trouble finding well-priced Chianti wines in supermercati or trattorie.

Florence - short bus or train journey from Siena.

Rome - Possible day trip to get a glimpse of Italy's capital. Bus or train from Siena.