Siena
From World travel guide
Siena is an historic medieval city in the region of Tuscany, located in the north of Italy, and lying some 70 km (43 miles) south of Florence. It is probably best known for a colourful horse race, Il Palio, conducted twice each year in the summer.
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Get in
By plane
Siena's Ampugnano airport is located 9 km from the city. At the moment, connections from Olbia, Vienna and Munich are available. For additional information tel 0577/392226. A shuttle service connection is currently available between the airport and Piazza Gramsci TRA-IN (tel. 0577/204224).
Most travellers arriving by plane will land at airports in Florence or Pisa.
By car
From the north, take the Chiantigiana from Florence (SS 222 - 72 km) that elegantly crosses the hills of Chianti or the highway (SS 2 superstrada Siena/Firenze - 68 km). From the south, Siena can be reached by taking the Autoway from Rome (A1 Roma-Firenze, exit Valdichiana), turning right on state highway n°326 (Bettolle-Siena - 240 km).
By train
From the north, the direct rail connection departs from Florence. From the south, direct connections to Siena depart from Chiusi or from Grosseto. The train station in Siena is located approximately 2 km from Siena’s historical centre, a five minute bus ride - buses leave regularly from Piazza del Sale. Buses n°s 3, 8, 10, 17, 77 leave from the station to Piazza del Sale and Bus n. 17 departs from Piazza del Sale for the train station.
By bus
Take the Sita bus from Florence, 1hr 20 minutes (day trip if staying in Florence). Connections are also available from Rome and various other cities.
Get around
The historical centre of Siena's medieval city is accessible only on foot. Cars are strictly prohibited. There is a small bus (Pollicino) run by the TRA-IN company that covers some streets located in the centre. Outside the main city walls in the primary tourist areas can be found various parking areas. For more information, contact “Siena Parcheggi” tel. 0577/228711. To call or reserve a taxi: telephone the Central Reservation Office at 0577/49222.
See
- the Piazza del Campo
- the Palazzo Pubblico
- the Duomo, Siena's magnificent Italian Romanesque cathedral including the Libreria Piccolomini (separate admission charge), Baptistery (separate entrance) and attached museum (separate entrance) [1] (website only in Italian)
- the Pinacoteca
- the Palio, a horse race like nowhere else. The Sienese are all affiliated with one of the seventeen contrada (plural contrade), to which a typical Sienese feels loyal with a strength perhaps surpassed only by their loyalty to their family. Since the 11th century, the Sienese have conducted two festivals every year where the city's contrade compete for renown (and in times gone by, actual political power) through contests such as flag throwing, horse racing and even fist fights. The fist fights no longer happen, but the spirit of competition between contrade is still fierce. See more on the Palio at / PALIO DI SIENA.
Do
Great jazz festival [2] during summer.
There are also classical concerts during the summer at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and at various locations in the city during the Settimana Musicale Senese. Go to [3] for more information on the conservatory and the festival.
Enjoy the evening passeggiata with the local Sienese.
Learn
The wonderful Siena Jazz Music School is housed in the old fortress.
Siena is also known for its Italian language schools and several prestigious universities.
Drink
Also in the fortress is an excellent and large enoteca (wine bar).
Eat
- Excellent gelato can be found just off the Campo at a gelateria called "Brivido".
- For something more substantial, "La Chiacchiera" is an excellent source of typical Tuscan cuisine; the pici (thick, homemade noodles) are superb.
- Also excellent is "La Torre", the restaurant of the contrada of the same name.
Sienese Specialties
Panforte is a unique kind of dense cake, made of honey, flour, almonds, candied fruits, a secret blend of spices, etc. Tipo Margherita is the classic, but several other types are made. Panforte is commercially manufactured only in Siena and neighboring Monteriggioni, its loyal ally in its medieval wars with Florence. The most famous brand of panforte is Sapori. You can buy panforte most cheaply in local supermarkets, but don't miss a trip to Nannini on Banchi di Sopra, a pleasant caffè where you can buy not only the panforte they make but also many other types of unusual pastries and so forth.
Ricciarelli are almond paste cookies.
External links
- Siena Tourism - official tourism website of the Comune di Siena (Siena Municipality)
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