Location: Siena
Top Things to do in Siena
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for Big Groups 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. Siena Walking Tours - Private Guided Tours with Costanza
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 153 reviews
Guided walking tours in Siena and in the main towns of its province with the local guide Costanza. Guided walks in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Customized itineraries and wine tastings on request.
3. Anima Toscana Bike Tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 100 reviews
Anima Toscana it's a travel agency and bike tour operator, we organize cycling tours and vacations in Tuscany. We offer guided fully supported bike tour, self-guided bike tours, one day bike tours and bike rental service.
4. Duomo di Siena
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11,597 reviews
The magnificent complex of the Cathedral of Siena, its Duomo, houses a series of some of the most important monuments of the European artistic panorama. With its more than one million visitors every year, the Cathedral without a doubt represents the fulcrum of the entire complex, while other significant elements include the Crypt, the Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera, all part of the impressive mass formed by the "Duomo Vecchio" (Old Cathedral), and the "Duomo Nuovo" (New Cathedral). Visitors will travel along a memorable itinerary to the discovery of self and the truth of faith through culture and art, the result of more than a millennium of Western history.
Reviewed By Iowares - Des Moines, United States
We walked over to the ticket office to get the tickets for the Duomo, museum, Baptistry and Crypt, and we were blown away with our tour guides! We have seen all the major churches and Cathedrals in Italy, and many of the lesser-knowns, too, and nothing comes anywhere close to this one! Each has it's own unique style, but this one was the most memorable for me! The interior tour was brilliantly executed and our tour guides made us feel like private guests getting a unique inside tour! I could go back every day and see something new! They cover different parts of the floor at different times, so one would need to go at different times to see it all.
5. Walk About Italy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 306 reviews
My name is Gianni. I am a PhD geologist, certified nature guide and tour operator. Let me show you around the undiscovered Tuscany and set up your trip. I organize active tours. You will be able to enjoy beautiful walks in the countryside and through small villages, interact with the locals and sample great food and wines in Tuscany and Italy. I am a 46 year old resident, so passionate about my country. Only private tours or small group joinable tours. No bus crazy crowds! Let me put together a great active and cultural vacation for you and your friends. Please read my reviews.
6. Wine Tour in Tuscany
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,439 reviews
Wine Tour in Tuscany is owned and operated by Donatella, a young woman who was born and raised in the area. Sharing her authentic perspectives on the unknown corners of wonderful Tuscany, including those of a formally trained sommelier offers her clients a unique experience. The Tuscan landscape, its wine and food make the area one of the most famous in the world. Donatella is a polite, friendly, enthusiastic guide who speaks French and English with ease. She is fully licensed, insured and in compliance with all Italian regulations.
7. Biblioteca Piccolomini
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,063 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia
This large single, rather narrow, room with a very high ceiling, used to be part of the priest's house attached to the side of the Duomo. Entry is gained via a side doorway from within the Cathedral. All of the combined tickets into the Duomo include entry into this Library. The Library was built in 1492 by authority of the then Bishop of Siena, Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (who was to be the future Pope Pius III), to house the books and manuscripts of his uncle, Pope Pius II, and to honour his lifetime achievements. The single room has display cases that house beautifully hand painted and hand written hymn books around the lower part of the walls of the room. Above the display cases the walls are totally covered with richly coloured frescoes of 10 scenes representing various important events in the life of Pope Pius II. The vaulted ceiling is similarly covered in a series of brightly coloured smaller paintings that are geometrically spaced. The frescoes are the work of Pinturicchio, who was born in Perugia, and his workshop and were completed in the first decade of the 16th century. It is believed that a young Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino worked in this workshop for a period at this time. The only statue in the room is a copy of the statue of the The Three Graces, which is based on an original Greek statue. Don't miss seeing this room if visiting the Duomo.
8. Antonella Piredda
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 107 reviews
I am a qualified private tour guide for Tuscany, official cheese taster and wine expert. I have been taking clients from all over the world around Siena and the surrounding areas of Tuscany including San Gimignano, Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Cortona since 2006. I conduct different types of tours including art tours, wine tours in the Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti and Vino Nobile wine districts: artisans tours, garden tours as well as private wine, olive oil and cheese tastings. I have access to many famous and boutique wineries throughout the region and I thoroughly enjoy the pleasure my guests have in learning about and tasting wines and cheeses. I customize my tours and offers arranging special events (Palio tickets, private luncheons and visits, cooking classes) for different type of clients (individuals, groups, family reunions, families with kids, honeymooners, seniors etc).
9. 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.
10. Siena Tartufi (truffle hunting)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 187 reviews
From love for the earth and for its extraordinary products born SIENA TRUFFLES, a small but lovely shop of typical products based on truffles, opened right in the heart of Siena, on the corner of Piazza del Campo, the heart of Tuscany's most charming . After 15 years of passion for truffles, carried out in the forests of central Italy in the company of dogs faithful and well trained, we decided to give a home to what for me was a great passion, but which for many was and is always one of the highest peaks of Italian, so famous all over the world thanks to valuable products such as truffles. From the earth to the table in short, to satisfy the most experienced demanding, from fresh product just found (whether trifola or scorzone) to the various sauces made with truffles, creams, all 'truffle oil until the brandy truffle and traditional pasta, also obviously enhanced by truffle. All in the name of "Made in Italy", pursued with determination and conviction as a fundamental value.
Reviewed By colorf435
We ordered a custom gift basket from the store in Siena Italy. I corresponded directly with the store owner, Alessandro, who helped me craft the perfect gift basket. He was extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. The quality of their products are outstanding, and the presentation is fabulous! They also deliver 3 day to United States.
