Siena Travel Guide: Medieval Tuscany at Its Most Complete

Siena is the best-preserved medieval city in Italy. Unlike Florence, which was rebuilt during the Renaissance and later, Siena’s centre has changed remarkably little since the 14th century — when it was a rival of Florence, Venice, and Genoa for commercial and artistic dominance. The plague of 1348 killed two-thirds of the population and effectively ended Siena’s expansion, which is why so much of it survives. UNESCO World Heritage since 1995.

Piazza del Campo

The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo is one of the great public spaces in Europe — built in the 13th century, sloping, surrounded by medieval palaces, with the Palazzo Pubblico at the base. The Torre del Mangia (tower of the town hall, 102m) offers the best view of the city and the surrounding Tuscan hills. Entry approximately €10 as of 2026; 400 steps; open daily 10am–7pm in summer, 10am–4pm in winter. Timed entry; maximum 25 people at any one time. The square is the stage for the Palio twice a year.

The Palio

The Palio di Siena is a bareback horse race around Piazza del Campo held twice a year: July 2 and August 16. Seventeen city districts (contrade) compete; each is passionately loyal to its symbol (tortoise, she-wolf, panther, etc.) and takes the race with complete seriousness. Only 10 contrade race each time, selected by a combination of rotation and lottery. The race itself lasts approximately 90 seconds — three laps of the Campo on a temporary dirt track. The pageantry, the medieval costumes, and the weeks of preparation are the real experience.

Viewing: The central standing area (the Campo) is free but intensely crowded — arrive by 3pm for a 7pm race and stand for hours. Balcony and bleacher seats around the edges are sold through contrade or ticket agencies — expect approximately €300–500 per person, often booked months ahead. Hotels in Siena are fully booked for Palio weeks; reserve 3–6 months in advance.

The Duomo

Siena’s Cathedral (Santa Maria Assunta) is one of Italy’s most extraordinary Gothic churches — built in black and white marble, with a facade of extraordinary sculptural richness. Inside: the Piccolomini Library has Renaissance frescoes by Pinturicchio depicting the life of Pope Pius II. The marble floor — 56 panels of engraved and inlaid marble by various artists over 200 years — is covered for preservation and revealed only in late summer (usually mid-August to mid-October, additional entry fee approximately €2).

The Battistero (Baptistery) below contains a baptismal font with reliefs by Donatello, Jacopo della Quercia, and Lorenzo Ghiberti. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo across the square has Duccio’s Maestà altarpiece (1308–1311), one of the masterpieces of medieval Italian painting. The Facciatone — the wall of the never-completed nave extension — can be climbed for a panoramic view.

Combined ticket (OPA SI Pass): approximately €15 as of 2026, covers the Cathedral, Baptistery, Piccolomini Library, Museo dell’Opera, and Facciatone. Open daily; hours vary by season.

Other sights

Pinacoteca Nazionale (Via San Pietro 29) — Siena’s painting gallery, with the best collection of Sienese Gothic art in the world. Works by Duccio, Simone Martini, Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti. Entry approximately €4. Closed Monday.

Basilica di San Domenico — The church where St. Catherine of Siena (patron saint of Italy and of Europe) worshipped. Her preserved head is displayed in a chapel — a relic of intense significance to the city.

Fontebranda — The medieval public fountain below San Domenico, mentioned by Dante. One of the oldest water sources in the city.

Where to eat

Sienese cuisine is Tuscan but distinct. Pici (thick hand-rolled pasta, often with ragù or cacio e pepe), ribollita, panzanella, and wild boar ragù are the standard dishes. Osteria Le Logge (Via del Porrione 33 — mains approximately €16–22, reservations recommended) is one of the best trattorias in the city. Trattoria Papei (Piazza del Mercato 6 — mains approximately €10–14) serves large portions of Sienese classics at fair prices.

Where to stay

Budget: approximately €60–90/night for B&Bs in the centro storico. Mid-range: approximately €100–170/night. The Hotel Athena (Via Paolo Mascagni 55) has doubles from approximately €110/night with views over the countryside. Palazzo Ravizza (Pian dei Mantellini 34) is a three-star in a Renaissance palazzo with a garden, from approximately €120/night.

Day trips

Val d’Orcia — The UNESCO-listed landscape south of Siena: rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, and wine towns. Pienza (pecorino cheese capital, 50km south), Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino wine, 40km south), and Montepulciano (Vino Nobile, 65km south-east) are all reachable by car or bus. A wine-focused day trip is one of the great experiences in Tuscany. San Gimignano (30km northwest, 50 minutes by bus) has medieval towers and Vernaccia white wine. Volterra (60km northwest) is the less-visited Etruscan and alabaster city. For full transport details, costs, and wine tasting information: Day Trips from Siena.

For the full picture on Sienese and Tuscan food — pici, ribollita, and the local wines — our Tuscan food guide covers the regional cuisine. Planning a broader Tuscany trip? Our Tuscany itinerary combines Siena with Florence, the Val d’Orcia, and Chianti. Book a guided Siena tour to explore the Duomo, Piazza del Campo, and the Contrade heritage with a local expert. For where to sleep: Siena hotels and B&Bs. For sights, museums, and neighbourhood walks: things to do in Siena. For a wider look at accommodation across Tuscany — agriturismo, wine-estate stays, and hilltop hotels: our Tuscany hotels guide.

Getting there

Siena has no fast rail connection — trains from Florence take approximately 90 minutes with a change. The SITA/Tiemme bus from Florence (approximately 75 minutes, approximately €8) is faster and more direct. By car from Florence: approximately 70km via the Firenze-Siena superstrada (approximately 75 minutes). Siena is a ZTL (limited traffic zone) — park outside the walls and walk in.