| His ((it)Siena) | |
 | |
| The Piazza del Campo place of the famous palio. | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Italy |
|---|---|
| Area | 118,53 km² |
| Population | 53 901 hab. () |
| Density | 454,75 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | 53100 |
| Spindle | UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00 |
| Location | |
 43 ° 19 ′ 12 ″ N 11 ° 19 ′ 50 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
His (in Italian Siena) is the capital of the province that bears his name, located at 70 km South of Florence, in Tuscany.
Understand
Siena is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and therefore in Italy. After its supremacy in Tuscany, then long opposed to the political forces of Florence, it acquired a culture of its own for its political and artistic development.
This is particularly felt in its architecture, a fortified place on the top of a promontory of 3 hills while Florence is located in the Arno basin surrounded by hills and mountains.
It is typical of borgo (medieval village) that we find in Tuscany as in Arezzo, San Gimignano, Volterra, etc. It has kept its face from the 12th century, the period of its splendor and is best known for the square Il Campo, where the feast of the Palio, frantic race of riders representing their neighborhoods (contrade).
The industrial development of the twentieth century obviously exceeded its limits and spread to the areas of the periphery, but its historic center has remained, protected and enhanced for obvious tourist needs.
As with many of the sites in these cities, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To go
By car
- From Florence, by FI-SI, free expressway between these two regional capitals.
- Motorway from Perugia
- Highway A1 or by the main road of via Cassia from Rome
- Great route from Grosseto
Many paid car parks on the very edge of the ramparts that it is preferable to use, traffic being prohibited inside the enclosure to foreign nationals (in the city).
Despite everything, even in July parking on the promenade, under the ramparts, leading to San Domenico (free) is quite easy.
Each access road to the city leading to a door in the ramparts, in case of appointment, make sure you specify the adjacent doors to find your way.
The most important are the porta San Marco, the porta Romana, and the porta Camollia.
By train
The train station is outside the city center, along the waterway that bypasses the city, there are many direct connections from Florence (1 h 30The station being located below the old town and quite far away, it is possible to take an urban bus (go to the shopping center in front of the station and get off in the basement), but also to take the conveyor belt system that lead from the shopping center very close to Porta di Camollia, the northernmost point of the historic center.
By bus
TO 1 h 15 maximum of Florence, depending on traffic and for 7 €. You arrive at the bus station, Piazza Gramsci, near the historic center, and you are on your way to work, plus this is an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Tuscan landscape (if you are not afraid of driving fast Tuscan bus drivers).
By plane
By Pisa or Florence, no other choice, the only airport of Siena being for humanitarian use.
Circulate
To see
- 1 Piazza del Campo (il Campo) – central square of the city and its marble fountain, called Gaia cast iron. Il Campo is a unique conch-shaped plaza that descends towards the Palazzo Pubblico. It is an architectural ensemble that is unique in the world, the true heart of the city, at the confluence of the city's three hills. This is where the famous Palio races take place during the summer.
- 2 Palazzo Pubblico (Comunale Palace and Museo Civico) – seat of the municipal government, the court of Podestà and its torre del Mangia of 102 m red brick. The Civico Museum is the perfect introduction to the Sienese culture so different from that of its Florentine rival. Because if Florence flourished culturally in the fifteenth century, the golden age of Siena dates from XIVe century, before the epidemic of bubonic plague which ruined the city and brought it under the control of Florence. the Museo Civico is a masterpiece of unique frescoes with sometimes Byzantine influence. The walls and the ceilings are covered with it, in particular by the famous allegories of good and bad government ("in the city and in the country").
- 3 Torre del Mangia – splendid view of the whole city and the surrounding countryside
- 4 siena cathedral (Santa maria Assunta, also known as Duomo di Siena) – The very ornate facade and the stone marquetry pavements of the interior on the subject: The Sibyls, the Saint-Jean baptistery at the bottom of the steps under the apse and the crypt between the first two (newly discovered and open since 2002 - no photos same "senza flash")
- 5 Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo – cathedral museum; original sculptures of the facade and magnificent paintings by Duccio.
- 6 National Gallery – most important pictorial museum in the city.
- 7 Santa Maria della Scala Hospital – in front of the Duomo. numerous oratories in the basement with the National Archaeological Museum.
- 8 tavolette di Biccherna (National Archives) – in the Piccolomini Palace near the Campo, left side.
- 9 Palazzo delle Papesse – modern and contemporary art museum
Do
- Palio – You can also attend the Palio which takes place every year in summer; a horse race that takes place in the piazza del campo between the different contrades of Siena.
To buy
Eat
As with Florence, the closer you get to the center (here from the Campo), the more the prices go up (coffee, ice cream, meals, terraces ...).
Prefer cafes at the bottom or under the square for the price, at the top for the view.
Cheap
- Il Grattacielo (Le Gratte-ciel), casual, typical cuisine, open only around noon, located in a corner of alleys near a passage under vault (sloping tables).
- 1 Te Ke Voi? Vicolo di san Pietro 2,
39 0577 40139 – 
Middle class
- ... all the pizzerie tourists
Luxury
- Ristorante il Mugolone, Via dei Pellegrini Tel: 0577 283 235.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Cheap
- Bed & Breakfast “Guesthouses in Siena”, [1], B&B in Siena and the surrounding area.
Elegant and comfortable rooms within walking distance of the most beautiful places in the city.
Middle class
- Antica Residenza Cicogna Via dei Termini, 67, 39 0577-285613, 39 347-0072888 (cellular), fax : 39 0577-285613, e-mail : [email protected]
- Residence La Costa (Relais La Costa) Strada di Riciano, 53035 Monteriggioni
Luxury
- major international hotels in the city
- summer residences outside the city
Around
- Monteriggioni (North) – hilltop village, medieval festival in summer.
- Val d'Orcia (South.) – San Quirino d'Orcia: collegiate church.
- Crete Senesi (At the South-East.) – Accona Desert and Territorial Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore.
- San Galgano (At the South West.) – an old Cistercian abbey, which has lost its roof, in the middle of the fields.
- Asciano – Palazzo Corboli-Museo d'Arte sacra
