Siena City Guide
Siena was first founded in the Etruscan age (900–400 BC) and its historic centre is deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The attractive red brick of this Tuscan city combined with its historic buildings and fascinating museums all add to the charm of this vibrant University City.
What to do and see in and around Siena
Santa Maria Della Scala
This former hospital, in front of the cathedral now displays over a thousand years of history in the form of frescos, crypts and tunnels, from the Etruscan age, through the Renaissance, to the present day. This amazing building is also a venue for temporary exhibitions.
Museo Dell’Opera Metropolitana
This wonderful museum houses artworks belonging to the Duomo, with the highlight of the collection being 13th–15th century masterpieces from Tuscany and Siena.
Museo Civico
The Museo Civico, or city museum of Siena is located in the gothic splendour of the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) and is home to paintings, sculptures and frescos from Siena. Amongst the frescos are works dating back to the early 12th century from Simone Martini, dating back to the early 16th century from Domenico Beccafumi and late 19th century frescos depicting the Unification of Italy.
Duomo
Dating back to the 13th century, this Romanesque cathedral has a striking façade only rivalled by its interior furnished with black and white marble columns, mosaic floors and stained glass windows. The Duomo is also home to a number of works of art, such as the Feast of Herod by Donatello.
Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is the square that marks the meeting point of the 3 hills on which Siena was founded and dates back to 1327. Piazza del Campo is also the centre of Siena and as such has always been the host to Siena’s major events. If you are lucky enough to be in Siena in July and August you are likely to witness the famous Siena Palio on the square too.
Torre del Mangia
This elegant 12th century brick bell tower stands next to the Palazzo Pubblico as a symbol of the equal power between church and state. The tower stands at a height of 88 metres, and if you can manage the 400 steps, provides dizzying views over Piazza del Campo and the countryside from the top.
Chiesa di San Domenico
Chiesa di San Domenico is a massive gothic basilica which was constructed in the 13th century and enlarged to the structure we see today in the 14th century. Like other Sienese structures it is made of red brick. It was near the church in 1353 that Caterina Benincase (later St Catherine of Siena) received her first vision; she later became a Dominican nun, and an important intermediary for the papacy during its exile from Rome. After her death Catherine was proclaimed saint by Pope Pius XII.
Chiesa di San Francesco
The current structure of the Chiesa di San Francesco dates back to the 14th century and can be found on the Piazza San Francesco. The basilica takes on a rather simple hut-like shape and the interior is similarly sober due to a fire in the 17th century and restoration during the late 19th century. However there are some fascinating pieces of art inside such as Madonna with Child and Saints by Jacopo Zucchi.
Forte di Santa Barbara
The Forte di Santa Barbara sits behind the 19th century Giardini della Lizza gardens, previously used for cavalry training, and was built by Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1560 in order to secure the city. The fortress in no longer used for military purposes and now houses exhibitions as well as a fascinating complex of underground passages where visitors can enjoy Italian wine tasting.
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