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Siena

Siena

Siena is the capital of province of Siena in the region of Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the most visited cities in Italy with hundreds of thousands of tourists pouring into the city every year. The beautiful Historic Centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Map of Siena

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Siena, siena italy
Piazza del Campo, Siena - Photo: Massimo Catarinella

Piazza del Campo is the main square of the historic centre and is largely thought of as being one of the best and most beautiful medieval squares in the whole of Europe. Shaped like a large shell it is both visually and architecturally unique. The Palio horse race (link) is held twice a year around the Piazza del Campo.

Siena, siena italy
Piazza del Campo from Torre del Mangia - Photo: Mark Sehnert

Torre del Mangia is the bell tower of Palazzo Pubblico to which it is attached. The tower was built in the mid 14th century and at the time, due to it having been built to rival the one in Florence, it was the tallest structure in Italy.

Siena, siena italy
Palazzo Publico - Photo: Walter Popp

Lining the sides of Piazza del Campo are many of the main historic buildings such as the Palazzo Pubblico, built at the end of the 13th century which was, and still is, the Town Hall.

Fonte Gaia is a monumental fountain which was first constructed in 1342 with underground pipes bringing water from 25 kilometres away. The current decorative surround to the fountain was constructed in 1419 by Jacopo della Quercia but the original marble panels were replaced by copies at the end of the 19th century.

Siena, siena italy
Fonte Gaia - Photo: Markus Mark

The other main sights to visit in this beautiful city are:

Palazzo Salimbeni which is located on the edge of Piazza Salimbeni and is still the original headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena which is one of the oldest banks in Europe.

The Cathedral, widely considered to be a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture, was constructed in the 12th century. There is an internal staircase which you can climb to obtain a panoramic view of the city.

Siena, siena italy
Siena Cathedral - Photo: Myrabella

The Basilica of San Domenico was built in the mid 13th century and is one of the most important religious buildings in the city. It was enlarged during the 14th century but suffered damage in the 15th century during a series of fires. This church houses several relics of St. Catherine of Siena.

Santa Maria dei Servi is a Romanesque style church built over the former church of St Clement in the 13th century. It underwent major reconstruction and refurbishment right up to the end of the 15th century. On the outside it is a simple church with a single doorway and a rose window but the interior, by contrast, is heavily decorated.

The bell tower was also built in the 13th century and was fully restored in the 20th century. San Francesco is a basilica church and was erected in the mid 13th century before being enlarged in both the 14th and 15th centuries. It was originally built in the Romanesque style but after the enlargements it was, and still is, Gothic. It was badly destroyed by fire in 1655 and still looks rather stark inside.

Siena, siena italy
Santa Maria dei Servi - Photo: Myrabella

Santo Spirito is a Renaissance style church and was built in 1345. It underwent major reconstruction between the years 1498 and 1504.

San Martino is a 12th century church which was rebuilt and enlarged in the 16th century. The current Baroque façade was added in 1613 and the bell tower in 1738. The church stands next to the Renaissance style 'Logge del Papa' which was commissioned in 1462 by Pope Pius II Piccolomini.

The Basilica dell'Osservanza is not in the city centre but on the outskirts of Siena, It was built at the end of the 15th century and enlarged in few years later.

During World War II it was almost completely destroyed by American bombing but was sympathetically restored afterwards with photographs and evidence presented by the monks of the monastery.

Siena, siena italy
Basilica dell'Osservancza - Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

The Siena Synagogue is a noteworthy historic building and is open to visitors.

Castello di Belcaro is actually a Renaissance villa which was built in 1525 on the site of a ancient castle that belonged to the Republice of Siena.

Villa Cetinale is a 17th century Baroque villa and formal Italian gardens.

Siena, siena italy
The Limonaia, Villa Cetinale - Photo: ingorr

Villa Celsa

Villa Chigi

Villa Volte Alte

The Medicean Fortress on the edge of the town contains the Enoteca Italiana (wine repository) and the Siena Jazz School.

Housed in the notable Gothic Palazzo Chigi-Saracini on Via di Città is the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena's conservatory of music.

Siena
Population: 54,126
Male: 24,886
Female: 29,240
Population density: 67.2 per square km

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Flag of Tuscany
Flag of Tuscany
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 22,990 km²
      Population: 3.6 million
      Density: 157/km²
      Capital: Florence

      National Parks:
      Tuscan Archipelago
      Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, and Campigna
Location of Tuscany
Location of Tuscany
Provinces of Tuscany
Provinces of Tuscany
  • Comunes of Tuscany
    • Arezzo
      • Anghiari
        Arezzo
        Badia Tedalda
        Bibbiena
        Bucine
        Capolona
        Caprese Michelangelo
        Castel Focognano
        Castel San Niccolò
        Castelfranco di Sopra
        Castiglion Fibocchi
        Castiglion Fiorentino
        Cavriglia
        Chitignano
        Chiusi della Verna
        Civitella in Val di Chiana
        Cortona
        Foiano della Chiana
        Laterina
        Loro Ciuffenna
        Lucignano
        Marciano della Chiana
        Monte San Savino
        Montemignaio
        Monterchi
        Montevarchi
        Ortignano Raggiolo
        Pergine Valdarno
        Pian di Sco
        Pieve Santo Stefano
        Poppi
        Pratovecchio
        San Giovanni Valdarno
        Sansepolcro
        Sestino
        Stia
        Subbiano
        Talla
        Terranuova Bracciolini

    • Firenze
      • Bagno a Ripoli
        Barberino di Mugello
        Barberino Val d’Elsa
        Borgo San Lorenzo
        Calenzano
        Campi Bisenzio
        Capraia e Limite
        Castelfiorentino
        Cerreto Guidi
        Certaldo
        Dicomano
        Empoli
        Fiesole
        Figline Valdarno
        Firenze
        Firenzuola
        Fucecchio
        Gambassi Terme
        Greve in Chianti
        Impruneta
        Incisa in Val d’Arno
        Lastra a Signa
        Londa
        Marradi
        Montaione
        Montelupo Fiorentino
        Montespertoli
        Palazzuolo sul Senio
        Pelago
        Pontassieve
        Reggello
        Rignano sull’Arno
        Rufina
        San Casciano in Val di Pesa
        San Godenzo
        San Piero a Sieve
        Scandicci
        Scarperia
        Sesto Fiorentino
        Signa
        Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
        Vaglia
        Vicchio
        Vinci

    • Grosseto
      • Arcidosso
        Campagnatico
        Capalbio
        Castel del Piano
        Castell’Azzara
        Castiglione della Pescaia
        Cinigiano
        Civitella Paganico
        Follonica
        Gavorrano
        Grosseto
        Isola del Giglio
        Magliano in Toscana
        Manciano
        Massa Marittima
        Monte Argentario
        Monterotondo Marittimo
        Montieri
        Orbetello
        Pitigliano
        Roccalbegna
        Roccastrada
        Santa Fiora
        Scansano
        Scarlino
        Seggiano
        Semproniano
        Sorano

    • Livorno
      • Bibbona
        Campiglia Marittima
        Campo nell’Elba
        Capoliveri
        Capraia Isola
        Castagneto Carducci
        Cecina
        Collesalvetti
        Livorno
        Marciana
        Marciana Marina
        Piombino
        Porto Azzurro
        Portoferraio
        Rio Marina
        Rio nell’Elba
        Rosignano Marittimo
        San Vincenzo
        Sassetta
        Suvereto

    • Lucca
      • Altopascio
        Bagni di Lucca
        Barga
        Borgo a Mozzano
        Camaiore
        Camporgiano
        Capannori
        Careggine
        Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
        Castiglione di Garfagnana
        Coreglia Antelminelli
        Fabbriche di Vallico
        Forte dei Marmi
        Fosciandora
        Gallicano
        Giuncugnano
        Lucca
        Massarosa
        Minucciano
        Molazzana
        Montecarlo
        Pescaglia
        Piazza al Serchio
        Pietrasanta
        Pieve Fosciana
        Porcari
        San Romano in Garfagnana
        Seravezza
        Sillano
        Stazzema
        Vagli Sotto
        Vergemoli
        Viareggio
        Villa Basilica
        Villa Collemandina

    • Massa-Carrara
      • Aulla
        Bagnone
        Carrara
        Casola in Lunigiana
        Comano
        Filattiera
        Fivizzano
        Fosdinovo
        Licciana Nardi
        Massa
        Montignoso
        Mulazzo
        Podenzana
        Pontremoli
        Tresana
        Villafranca in Lunigiana
        Zeri

    • Pisa
      • Bientina
        Buti
        Calci
        Calcinaia
        Capannoli
        Casale Marittimo
        Casciana Terme
        Cascina
        Castelfranco di Sotto
        Castellina Marittima
        Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina
        Chianni
        Crespina
        Fauglia
        Guardistallo
        Lajatico
        Lari
        Lorenzana
        Montecatini Val di Cecina
        Montescudaio
        Monteverdi Marittimo
        Montopoli in Val d’Arno
        Orciano Pisano
        Palaia
        Peccioli
        Pisa
        Pomarance
        Ponsacco
        Pontedera
        Riparbella
        San Giuliano Terme
        San Miniato
        Santa Croce sull’Arno
        Santa Luce
        Santa Maria a Monte
        Terricciola
        Vecchiano
        Vicopisano
        Volterra

    • Pistoia
      • Abetone
        Agliana
        Buggiano
        Chiesina Uzzanese
        Cutigliano
        Lamporecchio
        Larciano
        Marliana
        Massa e Cozzile
        Monsummano Terme
        Montale
        Montecatini-Terme
        Pescia
        Pieve a Nievole
        Pistoia
        Piteglio
        Ponte Buggianese
        Quarrata
        Sambuca Pistoiese
        San Marcello Pistoiese
        Serravalle Pistoiese
        Uzzano

    • Prato
      • Cantagallo
        Carmignano
        Montemurlo
        Poggio a Caiano
        Prato
        Vaiano
        Vernio

    • Siena
      • Abbadia San Salvatore
        Asciano
        Buonconvento
        Casole d’Elsa
        Castellina in Chianti
        Castelnuovo Berardenga
        Castiglione d’Orcia
        Cetona
        Chianciano Terme
        Chiusdino
        Chiusi
        Colle di Val d’Elsa
        Gaiole in Chianti
        Montalcino
        Montepulciano
        Monteriggioni
        Monteroni d’Arbia
        Monticiano
        Murlo
        Piancastagnaio
        Pienza
        Poggibonsi
        Radda in Chianti
        Radicofani
        Radicondoli
        Rapolano Terme
        San Casciano dei Bagni
        San Gimignano
        San Giovanni d’Asso
        San Quirico d’Orcia
        Sarteano
        Siena
        Sinalunga
        Sovicille
        Torrita di Siena
        Trequanda

Hotels in Tuscany
Hotels in Tuscany
TuscanyWEATHER
Tuscany Climate (Florence)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 15 8 4 63
Feb 15 8 4 52
Mar 17 9 5 43
Apr 19 11 6 31
May 24 15 7 17
Jun 28 18 9 9
Jul 31 22 10 6
Aug 31 22 9 9
Sep 28 19 7 29
Oct 24 16 6 53
Nov 20 12 4 63
Dec 17 10 4 59
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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