Ask anyone who has travelled through Tuscany, and they’ll likely tell you Siena is their favourite city in the region. There are many reasons for this; it’s romantic, small, full of beautiful Medieval buildings and less crowded than Florence. Here are our top reasons to visit Siena.
Interested in visiting Siena? It’s just one of many beautiful destinations featured on Culture Trip’s 10-day small-group Northern Italy tour, led by our local insider.
Siena has a long history, dating to the Etruscan era, but the main development happened during the Middle Ages. If you’d like to capture all that storied past in one go, head for the hills that surround the city. From here, you can admire the unique urban skyline, with its collection of monuments, palaces and churches. If nothing else, it’s one of the prettiest cities in Italy.
It may not be as famous as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but the Torre del Mangia, inside the Public Palace in Piazza del Campo, is the most recognisable landmark in town. To reach the top, you have to climb 400 steps, but the views of the town and countryside are spectacular.
Wednesday is market day in Siena. The biggest market in Tuscany is held at La Lizza, an area near the old fortress, from 8.30am to 1.30pm. Vendors sell food, clothes and souvenirs. Come early in the morning; the market gets crowded as the day goes on.
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