Italy’s Hidden Gem: Siena

After exploring much of Tuscany on previous trips to Italy, I thought it was finally time to make a stop in Siena. We took a day-trip to this quaint town from Florence and got lost on all the charming backstreets, people-watched in the Piazza del Campo and enjoyed an aperitivo in one of the many cafe’s lining the piazza. Siena is full of medieval charm and is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive Siena Cathedral (Duomo) is a sight to see. Built mostly of white and black marble, it is a great example of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture.

Piazza del Campo is the highlight of Siena! Filled with lots of life and cafe’s at the perimeter, it’s definitely a great stop to people-watch and enjoy an aperitivo. The piazza is also famous for hosting the Palio horse race. Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia are located right on Piazza del Campo and are the centerpiece of the town square. Climb to the top of the Tower for amazing views of the town and surrounding countryside.

Just north of Piazza del Campo is the Piazza Salimbeni, a beautiful piazza that is home to the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in continuous existence in the world.

If you are traveling through Tuscany definitely make Siena a stop on your trip to enjoy the town as well as its rustic Tuscan cuisine and Chianti wine!

Getting to Siena can be a little tricky. We suggest these routes when planning your trip.

Train: From Firenze you can take a regional train from Santa Maria Novella Station. Trains leave often and are an hour and a half ride with local stops. Once you arrive, Siena’s train station is located about two miles north of the city center. You can walk from here to the center, but be prepared as it is mostly uphill (however, there are a series of escalators you can take to get to the top, just outside the main wall of the city). Or, you can take a bus from the Piazza Fratelli Roselli square outside of the train station to Piazza Gramsci to get up the hill and have a short walk to the center. Taxi’s are also available.

Bus: The bus from Firenze is also an hour and a half ride and is often more convenient since it will drop you off right in Piazza Gamsci. Piazza Gamsci is a short, and relatively flat, 10 minute walk to the city center.

Car: Siena is 45 minutes via car from Firenze, however auto traffic is very limited inside the historic center, so you will need to park outside and walk into the city.

Melissa Schollaert is a photographer, dreamer and travel fanatic who feels most at ‘home’ on the road. A true artist at heart, she has a degree in Interior Design which influences her photography as well as other artistic endeavors. You will find her criss-crossing the US taking photos or somewhere in Italy. If you need her, she’ll be on a plane.