Holiday apartment in Siena: Gothic centre and Palio

Siena reveals its distinctive character in its historic centre: it preserves the Gothic appearance it acquired between the 12th and 15th centuries. The city developed across three hills; three main streets connect them in a Y-shape and meet in a valley at Piazza del Campo.

Culture and history

The Palazzo Pubblico was built between 1297 and 1310. The Museo Civico houses an extensive fresco cycle by Ambrogio Lorenzetti from 1338 to 1339. It depicts the Allegory of the Government of the “Nine” and its effects on the city and countryside. The museum tour also includes a monumental 14th-century loggia with wide views over the valley behind the Palazzo Pubblico.

The Porta del Cielo leads on a tour above the cathedral roofs to panoramic views inside and outside the cathedral. In the Torre del Mangia, height and cityscape come together: the tower is 87 metres high, or 102 metres including the lightning conductor.

Santa Maria della Scala was a hospital for pilgrims and is now a museum. It displays the original statues created by Jacopo della Quercia for the Fonte Gaia. The Via Francigena, a historic pilgrimage route used by pilgrims from Western Europe travelling to Rome, also passes through Siena.

Museums and nature

The Museo delle Biccherne displays 106 painted wooden panels. From the 13th to the 17th century, they were used as covers for accounting registers. Access to this exhibition is accompanied by staff throughout the entire visit.

The Sala Dantesca in the State Archives of Siena contains the will of Giovanni Boccaccio, documents relating to episodes or figures from Dante’s Commedia, as well as writings by Santa Caterina and San Bernardino. The collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Accademia dei Fisiocritici are divided into the main geological, zoological, anatomical and botanical sections, as well as smaller collections.

The Orto de’ Pecci contains a reconstructed medieval urban garden. Within the urban setting, there are therefore both natural history collections and a historically designed garden.

City and routes

For the historic centre, there is a plan for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in connection with measures to control car traffic. Siena railway station is approximately 2 kilometres from the city centre. Beneath the city extend the Bottini, an underground aqueduct network more than 25 kilometres long that supplies Siena’s fountains and water points.

Some sections of the Bottini can be explored on foot. Access is via guided tours with a limited group size. In Siena, historic routes above ground and an underground water-supply system therefore meet without the two areas having the same character.

Events

At the Palio on 2 July, ten of Siena’s 17 contrade compete. The race consists of three laps around Piazza del Campo. For the Palio races on 2 July and 16 August, the square is covered each year with a layer of earth made from a mixture of tuff and sand.

The Drappellone is an original painting on silk. It is presented to the winning contrada of the Palio race on 2 July and the Palio race on 16 August. Another recurring event is the “Mercato nel Campo”: on the first weekend of December, it presents food and craft products in Piazza del Campo in a tradition reminiscent of medieval markets.

Other places: Montepulciano, Chiusi, Torrita Di Siena, Asciano, Buonconvento, Casole D'elsa, Castiglione D'orcia, Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusdino, Montalcino, Monticiano, Pienza, Radda / Chianti, Radicofani, Radicondoli, Rapolano Terme, San Casciano Dei Bagni, San Gimignano, San Giovanni D'asso, San Quirico D'orcia, Sarteano, Scrofiano, Sinalunga, Sovicille, Trequanda, Castellina In Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Colle Di Val D'elsa, Gaiole In Chianti, Monteriggioni, Poggibonsi, Vagliagli, Monteroni D'arbia, Siena, Murlo, Valiano, Abbadia San Salvatore, Piancastagnaio, Isola D'arbia, Anqua, Bibbiano, Colombaio, Montegabbro, Gallina, Piazze, Mensano, Fonteregina, Torri, Fonterutoli, Presciano, Badesse, Campriano, La Fratta, Ponte A Tressa, Megognano, Toiano, Scalvaia, Badiaccia A Montemuro, Taverne D'arbia.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tuscany.