Siena - Siena visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Siena' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Tuscany.

Siena is a very popular travel destination in Tuscany, full of old buildings, narrow streets, museums and cafes. The historic center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It is home to the world-famous Palio horse race around Piazza Del Campo, which is a massive tourist attraction. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy and a jewel in Tuscany.

This map, guide and tour shows some of the main sights and attractions of Siena, allowing you to explore this amazing city and plan for your holiday in Italy. Below is a short history of Siena followed by a brief description of some of the most popular, and important, attractions.

Siena - History

Like many other similar hill towns in Tuscany, Siena was first settled by the Saina Etruscans hill tribe some time after 900BC. During Roman times it was known as Saena Julia. The Roman link is obvious in the she-wolf suckling two children emblem found around the town, more commonly associated with the founding of Rome. However, Siena did not prosper during Roman times.

The fortunes of Siena changed after it was captured by the Lombards in the 6th century, who routed a lot of trade through the city, followed by the Franks in the 8th century. In the middle ages Siena prospered as a city-state with healthy banking, money lending and wool trades. Many of the important historic buildings date from this time, including Siena Cathedral and the Piazza del Campo, considered one of the most beautiful civic squares in Europe.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, Siena was in direct competition with Florence whose influence was expanding greatly. However, in 1348 the city was ravaged by the Black Death and then entered an unsettled period with a number of citizen revolts against the nobility resulting in the founding of the Republic of Siena. This was short-lived and in the 16th century Siena was captured by the Spanish and then ceded by King Philip to the Medici in Florence in order to cancel debt. Siena then remained in Florentine hands until the Unification of Italy.

Siena - Top Attractions

All of the main attractions in Siena are within walking distance of each other, many clustered in the Old Town near the top of the hill.

• Siena Cathedral (Duomo Santa Maria Assunta di Siena) - massive, 13th century Italian Romanesque cathedral with highly decorated façade, bell tower and vastly ornate bell tower. One of the top attractions in Siena.
• Museo dell'Opera del Duomo - museum associated with Siena Cathedral, housing many works of art formerly found in the Cathedral.
• Piazza del Campo - central town square, focus of the annual Palio horse race, surrounded by many old buildings including the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia, and very popular meeting place for tourists.
• Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Gallery) - housed in the Late Gothic Palazzo Buonsignori with a large collection of Sienese painting from the 12th to the 16th century.
• Palazzo Piccolómini - 15th century palace now housing the Archivio di Stato (National Archives).
Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi - large Servite church whose construction started in 1234 and was consecrated, still incomplete, in 1533. It contains several notable works of art.
• 13th century Romanesque church, converted into a Gothic structure in the 15th century containing various works of art and the remains of two 14th century sepulchres.
• Orto Botanico (Siena Botanical Gardens) - covering two and a half hectares on a hillside next to Piazza Sant Agostino, these gardens are a lovely, restful space away from most of the tourists.
• Maria della Visitazione di Siena(Visitation of Mary) - little visited, but highly ornate church dedicated to Mary.
• Piazza dei Salimbeni (Salimbeni Square) - medieval square dominated by the 9th century Salimberi Fortress.
• Basilica of San Domenico - one of the most important churches in Seina, also known as the Basilica Cateriniana as it contains some relics of Cateriniana.

Siena Tourist Information Offices
Piazza Campo, 56
Siena, Tuscany
Phone: 0577 280551
Email: infoaptsiena@terresiena.it
Web: terresiena.it

Flight: Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) and Ataf-Sita 'Vola in Bus' (Fly by bus) service. Low cost airlines to Pisa and then rail or bus to Siena.
Train: Siena Station with trains to Buonconvento, Empoli and Florence (Firenze SMN)