Travel Eye on Siena (Italy)

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Overview:

Siena is a compact, picturesque, well-preserved, walled medieval city, rich in historic architecture and artistic treasures. With a population of only 55,000, it manages to retain much of its original charm and, although many tourists "do" Siena in a day, it merits a stay of at least two to allow fuller appreciation of its beauty and history.

Siena is one of the most appealing towns in Tuscany, one of Italy's most appealing regions. The well-conserved medieval streets and piazzas are home to the annual festival of the Palio, a neck-or-nothing horserace which takes place in Siena's main square, the Campo. The town can be reached as a daytrip from Florence or Rome, but it's also a good place to stay for several days, soak up the atmosphere, and visit the surrounding Tuscan countryside. The town is still sometimes known by its alternative English spelling of Sienna.

The first stop for tourists in Siena is Piazza del Campo (otherwise known simply as il Campo). This is the secular heart of Siena, a sloping amphitheatre of a square, lined with cafe tables and thronged with tourists, school parties and locals. The Campo is the dramatic setting for the Palio horserace. The piazza's focal point is the Palazzo Pubblico , the public palace, which dates back to 1250 and is still the seat of the Municipality.

Measuring just over 1 ml from N to S and 1,500 yds E to W, the entire district within the city walls is a pedestrianised zone apart from delivery vehicles, mopeds, residents' cars and taxis. Bearing in mind the hills and tangle of streets, it's best to take a taxi into town on arrival and, from then on, explore on foot.

Siena is well-served by bus services, both from the surrounding towns and from more distant destinations, such as Rome. If you are travelling by train from the north of Italy, you should change at Florence for Siena; from Rome and the south, change trains at Chiusi.

The accomodation in the area is not cheap, but there is a wide range of hotels, many converted from former residences. The hotels are fully booked when the Palio (horse race) is on.

Tourists seem to be middle- to upmarket lovers of Italian art and history, some visitors might find the steep hills a bit of a challenge. many organised tour groups visit the area..

Locality:

In N-central Italy, in the region of Tuscany. 50 mls S of Florence. 130 mls NW of Rome. 65 mls from Pisa and its international airport, Galileo Galilei. Built on 3 ridges and surrounded by rolling hills and woodland.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Daytime is great for sightseeing, specifically art and architecture, including the Duomo, a striking cathedral constructed of black and white marble, and also in Piazza Duomothe Santa Maria della Scala museum. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which has fine examples of Gothic artwork.

Night time offers the "Passeggiata", where the residents stroll along Banchi di Sopra to Piazza del Campo; there are several bars, some with live music, classical-music concerts throughout the year, culminating in a series of concerts in July, Siena Jazz Festival at the end of July to beginning of Aug. No nightclubs exist within the walled city.

There are plenty of eateries, from rustic trattorias and simple pizzerias to upmarket restaurants. More affordable dining can be found away from the Piazza del Campo, where prices are hiked for tourists. Local specialities include salami, panforte and ricciarelli, the latter two being types of heavy cake made with nuts, honey and candied fruit. Local wines include Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.