Why you should visit Siena Italy
Siena is a hilly, pretty city with one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy (Piazza del campo), the 2nd highest tower in Italy (Torre del Mangia), and the most impressive Duomo (cathedral) I’ve ever seen. It is a city full of churches, museums, and great views over the surrounding countryside.
The historic town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet somehow it still falls under the radar for many visitors to Italy.
Accommodation: We stay at Hotel Duomo. Recommended.
The Piazza del Campo (below) is famous for the Palio, which is a no-holds-barred horse race run here twice a year. These races pit the 17 different neighborhoods of Siena against each other. You can’t go anywhere in Siena without hearing about the Palio, it is what unites but at the same time divides the Sienese more than anything else.
The Duomo di Siena (below) is absolutely stupendous. The interior is like a museum with its black and white marble pillars, intricate marble floor panels, beautiful renaissances frescos, a huge bronze dome, a sculpture of St. Peter by Michelangelo. What awed me most are the 170-odd busts of popes lining the cathedral, all looking down at you in an almost menacing manner. The whole cathedral was painted, sculpted, and decorated by the most celebrated Italian artists of that time. It is just amazing and I’m afraid these words and photos just don’t give it justice.
We climbed the Torre del Mangia, Italy’s 2nd highest tower. It has amazing views over the countryside.
Below: A more images around Siena
Practical Information
Recommended: Take a 2 hr Walking Tour . It includes the Duomo as well as all the other highlights of Siena. If you’re in Florence and want to see Siena, take this tour – it includes Siena, San Gimignano, as well as wine tasting in Chianti.
Accommodation: We stay at Hotel Duomo which was comfortable, clean, perfectly located and good value. Recommended.
Related: Bologna, one of Italy’s most underrated cities
Related: Highlights of Verona, Italy
Related: What to Do in Lucca
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Siena is beautiful, the Piazza del campo, the narrow streets and the Duomo, the first time we went there the guide told us that the walls outside the cathedral were meant to be part of the cathedral itself which would have done of it the largest church in the world I think. I would like to be at least for a moment during a Palio race but I think the city would be crowded and impossible to get a good place to watch the race. We always have done those visits with a one day tour from Florence which the first 2 times included San Gimignano that is a very nice place to visit too with its collection of towers, the last time the tour included a wine tasting that does not really add any value to the tour and could be left out of the program.
The Duomo is full of great art, frescoes, sculpture and paintings the pulpit by Pisano is among the most commented in this kind of art the same as the three graces appearing in your picture of the Piccolomini Library..
Excellent article as always. Say hello to Lissette.
Hello Carlos! I hope you are well! Siena is magnificent. Also very much enjoyed Cortona…but I can say the same for almost every Italian town we’ve visited.
And yes, that Duomo is incredible.
Lissette sends here greetings Carlos! Maybe one day our paths cross 🙂
Siena is a really special place that doesn’t seem to get as much mention as the other cities. We chose Siena over Pisa for our day trip out of Florence and the place was beautiful! I’ve always been intrigued by medieval landscapes.
Siena is lovely. We like to stay just outside the city in the countryside. You can stay in a castle for less than $100 per night.
The ceiling of the Piccolomini library in the cathedral is one of the coolest things we’ve seen in a church.
Agree, it’s spectacular!
[Clarification above where I didn’t describe it; the Piccolomini library is part of the Duomo di Siena and holds precious books and frescos. A photo of the ceiling is included above, it’s the last in the series of photos of the Duomo]