Location: Siena
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The 10 Best Points of Interest & Landmarks in Siena, Tuscany
This Tuscan hill town will transport you back to the Middle Ages. Siena's grand cathedral, built in the 1200s, has treasured artworks and marvelous marble floors. The Piazza del Campo, the main town square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's also home to the Palio, perhaps the most infamous horserace in the world. No goofy hats and mint juleps here—this is a medieval tradition involving bareback riders racing on cobblestones (so as you might imagine, it's quite dangerous). Siena is an easy daytrip by train from Florence, just 43 miles away.
Restaurants in Siena
1. Piazza del Campo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,045 reviews
Siena's main square is the site of the famous Palio horse races that take place in July and August.
Reviewed By Y7972VAmichaelh
The vast bustling Piazza del Campo in Siena is famous for the Palio horse races which attract thousands of visitors each year and must be a truly awesome spectacle. This is a most interesting city to explore for the spiders-web of streets that circumnavigate the Piazza lead to quite unexpected places, shops, churches and beautiful vistas. A photographers dream where sunlight and shadow enhances the beauty of the architecture at all times throughout the day. Siena is a must, and don’t cut your visit short for there’s much to see and do.
2. Centro Storico di Siena
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,424 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
A fantastic city that left us speechless. The historic center of the splendid Tuscan city is a treasure trove. Thanks to its urban and architectural characteristics, the historic center of Siena is a testimony of man's creative genius, and concretely expresses the artistic and aesthetic human capacity. Furthermore, the original example of figurative civilization, in architecture, painting, sculpture and urban planning, has determined an important cultural influence not only in the territory of the Republic of Siena, but also in Italy and Europe, in particular between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries . This is why Siena is one of the most excellent examples of an Italian medieval and Renaissance city. And above all, this is why she entered, with good reason, to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is, in fact, the era when numerous artists had the opportunity to express their art here and the city was adorned with wonderful monuments, such as the Duomo, the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia. Piazza del Campo is the same where the famous Palio takes place. Full of restaurants and bars, it is famous for its characteristic trapezoidal shape, downhill towards the center, where the Gaia spring is found, a copy of the fifteenth-century work by Jacopo della Quercia. All around the square stand out the monumental buildings including Palazzo Sansedoni and Palazzo Pubblico. The height of the Torre del Mangia, which dates back to the forties of the fourteenth century of 102 meters, is equal to that of the bell tower of the Cathedral to symbolize the balance achieved between divine and earthly power. At the foot of the tower stands the Piazza Chapel, a marble tabernacle with splendid sculptures inserted in the Gothic niches. Even in addition to Piazza del Campo, however, it is a riot of art and architecture with the succession of churches, including San Domenico, San Francesco and Santa Maria dei Servi, and, of course, the spectacular Duomo, one of the greatest examples of Roman style Italian Gothic. Built around the 12th century, it has a Latin cross structure, a dome, a bell tower and its facade is all in white marble with red Siena and green alternations. Its interior houses precious works by Bernini, Donatello, Michelangelo and Pinturicchio.
3. Villa Brandi
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
4. Porta Nova
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
5. Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 626 reviews
This museum complex, which houses the National Archaeological Museum of Siena, began as a pilgrims' hostel and orphanage, then served as a hospital from the 10th century to modern day.
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia
The former hospital and hospice that occupied this site and which has now been transformed into a huge museum complex commenced operating before the 12th century. The Santa Maria della Scala organisation provided a large number of services to the people including taking in abandoned babies and children, serving meals to the poor, treating the sick and caring for pilgrims who often received free food and lodgings. The Via Francigena, the main pilgramage road to Rome, passed through Siena and near the hospital which is located directly opposite the Duomo. The hospital complex was greatly expanded over the course of the many centuries following its establishment and it became part of the University during the 18th century. The hospital though ceased operating in the second half of the 20th century and, following a period of substantial renovation and refurbishment, the hospital opened as a museum in 1995. Those renovations and refurbishments are still ongoing. The complex encompasses three levels, has its own internal covered roadway, its own 13th century church, the magnificently frescoed and ornately decorated marble and gold plated Chiesa di Santissima Annunziata, a separate Archaeological museum with a vast array of Etruscan and Roman urns, pottery, statues etc, a museum dedicated to children (not a must see), cavernous beautifully frescoed Pilgrim halls that used to be used to house the pilgrims and the sick plus much more. Down another flight of stairs and there are several large rooms, including the former granary, that house the original marble statues from the Fonte Gaia by Jacopo della Quercia as well as a treasury that holds precious relics and reliquary. There is also the Oratorio di Santa Caterina della Notte where it is said that Saint Catherine of Siena, who worked in the hospital, passed her nights in prayer. There are beautiful frescoes and paintings in many of the halls and chambers. There was also a visiting temporary art exhibition during our visit that had some lovely paintings. There are a lot of steps but we did notice one lift so I would say that it may be wheelchair friendly. Cost of entry was EUR 9-00 per adult but there are a number of combination tickets for entry to here plus the Duomo or for entry to here plus the Torre del Mangia and the Museo Civico which is the combination that we purchased for EUR 20-00 per person. This complex has something new and interesting at the end of each corridor and tunnel and whilst it is a bit of a labyrinth, it is not that difficult to navigate although I would allow a good two hours to see most of it. Well worth the time.
6. Via di Citta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The picturesque Via di Citta street passes along the historic main square of Piazza del Campo. The atmosphere is beautiful. We feel the spirit of the Middle Ages every step of the way, giving us the opportunity to observe and enjoy the facades of beautiful buildings and palaces. Via di Citta is one of the main streets of old Siena. Today it is a pedestrian road that is flanked by many of the well-known historical buildings in the city. The Via di Citta or City Road was once called the Via Galgaria. This was because it consisted at the time of the city shoemakers' shops. The road is laid as a slope and the highest point which is a quarter flanked by medieval structures commands spectacular views across the Siena. At one end of the street is a square called the Quattro Cantoni. The square is the meeting point of the main streets of the city. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the high society of the city frequented the site. The beautiful buildings along the Via di Citta are the Palazzo Patrizi that dates back to the 14th century and houses the Accademia degli Intronati today, the music academy at the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini, the Palazzo delle Papesse, and Florentine renaissance style building that houses a contemporary arts center, in the Gothic style. I was particularly impressed by the Palazzo Marsili buildings and the Loggia della Mercanzia, the Sienese equivalent of a chamber of commerce.
7. Cripta del Duomo di Siena
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,040 reviews
Reviewed By K7787FEbrunol - Singapore, Singapore
Place was just recently discovered and it's really impressive to see how colors were well preserved. They really set-up the place well and you can enjoy a nice visit. Do note the drawings and other writings left by workers from other centuries
8. Facciatone
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 715 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The Facciatone of Siena is one of the most beautiful view points in the city. This is the masterpiece of Sienese Gothic architecture. Today is a privileged location from which to admire the beauty of this city, originally meant to represent an expansion of the Cathedral. The history of this place is interesting. History has it that in 1339 it was decided to expand the Duomo of Siena. The project envisaged that the current Cathedral should only represent the transept of the “New Cathedral”. The realization of the work had to materialize through the construction of three new naves, a large semicircular apse, and radial chapels but, due to various difficulties and the tremendous plague of 1348, the works were definitively interrupted in 1357. The elements that are visible today in this attempt to enlarge the Cathedral of Siena are the right nave, which houses a part of the Opera Museum, and the front that, over time, the inhabitants have kindly called “Il Facciatone”. The side of the Facciatone facing the Piazza Jacopo della Quercia was originally intended to be the interior of the facade. It is finished in typical Sienese style with alternating bands of black and white marble while its three arcades give it a graceful lightness that attracts the eye.
9. Chiesa di Santa Maria in Provenzano
10. Orti dei Tolomei
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