The wonderful
city of Siena is without doubt one of the very finest in Italy. It is certainly
a must-visit when in Tuscany. For that visit, here are a few must-dos:
Historic Centre
Siena is
perhaps best known for its historic
centre. It is, after all, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Any postcard of the
city will show the shell-shaped Piazza
del Campo, one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. It is here where the biannual Palio
di Siena takes place — a
renowned horse race between ten of the city’s seventeen different contrade. If you are in Siena in July or
August, make sure you do not miss this remarkable spectacle! Surrounding the
Piazza are The Torre del Mangia and Palazzo Pubblico, both boasting
beautiful exterior architecture and interior artworks.
Duomo
Siena Cathedral
(‘Il Duomo’) is a perfect example of Italian
Romanesque-Gothic architecture. The impressive façades render the actual building itself a work of art. Inside,
the marble stripes, mosaic floor, chapels, and important sculpted monuments make
a visit here a memorable experience.
Fonte Giusta
Siena is dotted
with fantastic restaurants. La Taverna
di San Giuseppe and Osteria
Permalico are both definitely worth a visit. However, Trattoria Fonte Giusta is a personal favourite. The volume of local patrons attests to the quality of
the food here. The Pici al Ragù
di Cinghiale (a fat Sienese spaghetti with Wild
Boar Ragu) is exceptional. Elsewhere, make sure you try the gelatos at La Vecchia Latteria. I would suggest
the fragola (strawberry) flavour!
Just walk around!
Cliché alert….You
get a real sense here of this being the ‘real Italy’. There are two reasons for
this. First, these narrow, cobbled streets are unchanged from Siena’s medieval
past. More importantly, though, Siena is different in that it is not too
touristy. Yes, of course it is popular. However,
the city’s unique (contrade-based) identity
shines through all year round, in large part because this is not the easiest
Italian city to reach. Siena has no airport, and so it takes a bit of effort to
get here. It will be worth it though! So, grab a gelato and watch the Sienese
world go by…
Welcome back! Want to pick up where you left off?