Siena is a province of the Tuscany Region of Italy with a rich heritage of artistic, architectural and landscape excellence supported by the presence of four UNESCO heritage sites: San Gimignano, Siena, Pienza and the Val d'Orcia.
Regions
[edit]Crete Senese a landscape characterised by bare and gently undulating hills, solitary oaks and cypresses, isolated farms on top of the hills, stretches of woods in the valleys, the fontoni that collect rainwater |
Val di Elsa the valley of the river Elsa |
Val d'Orcia characterised by gentle, carefully-cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages |
Cities
[edit]
- 1 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
- 2 Castellina
- 3 Castiglione d'Orcia — its fortified tower from the Middle Ages offers a spectacular 360-degree view over the Val d'Orcia area
- 4 Chianciano Terme — known for its therapeutic springs that have been healing Romans since ancient times
- 5 Lecchi in Chianti
- 6 Montalcino — a quiet Hilltop town known for its Brunello wine
- 7 Montepulciano — a hilltop town known for its eponymous wine
- 8 Monteriggioni — Italy's best-preserved completely walled medieval town
- 9 Pienza — considered to be the "touchstone of Renaissance urbanism
- 10 Rapolano Terme — has two ancient thermal spas: San Giovanni and Antica Querciolaia
- 11 San Gimignano — a pretty medieval walled city, famous for its historic centre with beautiful towers
Other destinations
[edit]- 1 Bagno Vignoni — attracts both Italian and foreign tourism with its charming natural landscape and thermal springs
- 2 Bagni San Filippo — a small hot spring containing calcium carbonate deposits
- 3 Chiusure — the area around Chiusure is filled with majestic cypresses and has among the finest views in all of Tuscany
- 4 Castelmuzio — a small charming town, worth a visit.
- 5 Radicondoli — has a ruined castle dating back to the year 1000
- 6 Radda in Chianti — a mediaeval town enclosed in city walls
- 7 San Quirico d'Orcia — the Leonini Gardens on the ancient ramparts date from 1581
- 8 Valiano — it hosts a palio, a horse-and-cart race every
- 9 Montefollonico — a mediaeval hilltop town that is off the tourist path and it still looks the way it did in the 13th century
Understand
[edit]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.
Local information
[edit]- Province of Siena website
Get in
[edit]Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 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.
Do
[edit]Eat
[edit]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.
Drink
[edit]This is Chianti wine country. You will have no trouble finding well-priced Chianti wines in supermercati or trattorie.
Stay safe
[edit]Go next
[edit]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.