City: Siena - Pop. 55000 - Alt
: 322 m asl - Location: Tuscany
Description: Siena is situated in the very heart of Tuscany
at 70 km from Florence and 231 km from Rome along the Cassia Way.
Siena lies at 322 m. above sea level on top of three hills
overlooking the Arbia and the Elsa valleys. It is rich in works of
art and monuments. Previously an Etruscan city and Roman settlement,
it has known economic and artistic prosperity during the
Middle-Ages. Siena has been able to conserve its ancient medieval
characteristics integrally: buildings, small squares, narrow
streets, back-streets and best of all, the warm, rich color of red
bricks. The town is divided into seventeen districts called
"Contrade ". Though old, Siena enjoys all modem comforts; she has
good hotels and restaurants and many little inns called "trattorie"
where prices are reasonable. Public offices are efficient and
visitors welcome. The historic center of Siena has been
declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.
Sights and Attractions:
Piazza del Campo and Torre del Mangia; Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall);
Palazzo del Capitano; Bishops Palace; Palazzo Tolomei;
Palazzo Chigi Saracini; Palazzo Salimbeni, seat of the Bank Monte
dei Paschi di Siena; The Duomo (Cathedral); Baptistry of St.
Giovanni; Church of Santissima Annunziata (next to the Duomo);
Basilica of Osservanza dedicated to San Bernardino; Santa Maria dei
Servi Basilica; Church of St Domenico; Church of St. Francesco; Church
of Santo Spirito; Oratory of St. Bernardino; Sanctuary and home of
St. Catherine; Synagogue
Museums: Opera Metropolitana del Duomo Museum (it hosts ten statues by Pisano
and a lot of paintings. On the first floor the museum exhibits the
greatest masterpiece of the Sienese school of painting, the famous "Maestą", by Duccio di
Buoninsegna.)
Accademia dei Fisiocritici (Museum of Natural History)
Museum of Tavolette di Biccherna
Palazzo Comunale and Civic Museum: works by Simone Martini,
Vecchietta, Sano di Pietro, Sodoma and a fresco cycle by Ambrogio
Lorenzetti.
Palazzo delle Papesse Modern Art Center.
Pinacoteca Nazionale (Picture Gallery, works by Duccio di
Buoninsegna, Pietro Lorenzetti and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. )
Spedale di Santa Maria della Scala (ex Hospital, now
Museum)
Popular
Events: "Il Palio", twice a year on July 2 and August 16. It takes
place in the famous Piazza del Campo with thousands of spectators.
Feast of San Giuseppe: It takes place from March 19 to the
beginning of April in Via Duprč, close to Piazza del Campo, where
you can find some stands offering good rice fritters and locally produced toys.
Siena Jazz festival
Feast of Santa Lucia: This traditional event takes place on
December 13, in "Pian dei Mantellini". Stands display ceramics,
terra-cotta and ceramic handbells.
Antique fair market: Every 3rd Sunday of the month in "Piazza
del Mercato", close to the famous Piazza del Campo. About 80
exhibitors participate.
Siena patron saint: St. Ansano, Dec 1
Siena's typical products: Chianti wine, sheep's milk cheese, olive oil, ceramics, terracotta
objects, wrought iron, leather goods and Siena's typical cakes (Panforte,
panpepato, ricciarelli, copate and cavallucci.)
Surrounding smaller towns and hamlets: Costalpino, Isola d'Arbia,
Taverne d'Arbia, San Miniato, Vignano, Ruffolo.
Neighboring towns:
Asciano, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Monteriggioni,
Monteroni d'Arbia, Sovicille.
Nearest airport:
Florence Airport (1 hour) or Siena Ampugnano airport (15 min drive)
only domestic flights .
Nearest train station: Siena train station
Public transportation: Bus connections are available from Florence
and Rome, and from various other towns of Tuscany. TRA-IN Bus
service www.traispa.it
Distances:
Florence 69 km,
Orvieto
100 km, Montalcino 40 km,
Montepulciano 53
km; Pienza 53, Rome 230 km,
San Gimignano 40
km.
