Siena

Visiting Siena is an unmissable experience. Its historic center, with its ancient charm, surrounded by imposing medieval walls and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, invites you to walk back in time and get lost among its paved alleys and the reddish-colored palaces that, not coincidentally, are known worldwide as "terra di Siena". The city is small, so walking is the best option. While walking towards the points of interest, why not look for the eight plaques with verses by Dante Alighieri or the numerous medieval fountains, such as the Fontebranda, the largest of them all? Or try to find all the symbols and coats of arms of the 17 "contrade" named after animals (Eagle, Goose, Dragon, etc.), the ancient divisions of the city that are still very important for the social life of the city today!

Piazza del Campo is not only one of the most charming and iconic squares in Italy but also the heart and soul of Siena. Its distinctive shell shape and natural slope characterize it. Surrounded by lively venues and elegant buildings, including Palazzo Pubblico, an imposing building dating back to the 14th century, headquarters of the Municipality and the Civic Museum, dominated by the majestic Torre del Mangia, 88 meters tall, which offers a spectacular panorama. Here is also the most beautiful of the medieval fountains, Fonte Gaia.

The square is famous not only for its architectural beauty and history but also because it hosts the famous Palio di Siena, an event with ancient origins that takes place twice a year. The seventeen historic districts of Siena compete in a fierce horse race to win the "Drappellone", a canvas hand-painted each time by a different artist.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the city's cathedral, is a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture from the 13th century. Its splendid facade captures the visitors' gaze, along with the bell tower, which stands 77 meters tall.

The interior surprises with its spaciousness, the white and dark green striped decorations, and the works of renowned Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello. The church floor, made up of spectacular 56 marble panels, is left uncovered only a few weeks per year. The Piccolomini Library astonishes visitors with the magnificent frescoes by Pinturicchio.

The cathedral complex also includes the crypt, the 14th-century Baptistery of Saint John the Baptist, and the Museum of the Opera del Duomo.

To admire the city from above, you can climb the "Facciatone", which, according to an unrealized project, was meant to be the new facade of the cathedral.

In addition to the cathedral, Siena boasts numerous other churches of great historical and artistic interest, such as the Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico, which preserves some important relics of Saint Catherine of Siena, the Basilica of San Francesco, adorned with some frescoes by great Sienese masters (although many were destroyed in various fires), the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano, the Basilica of Santa Maria dei Servi, the Church of San Pietro a Ovile, and the Basilica dell'Osservanza, which stands just outside the city.

Those who wish to follow the traces of Saint Catherine, patron saint of Italy and born and raised in Siena in the fifteenth century, must not miss the sanctuary named after her, built inside what was the saint’s house and other buildings. Here you can admire works of art dedicated to Saint Catherine and objects linked to her life.

In addition to the Civic Museum of Palazzo Pubblico and the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena boasts other museums ideal for lovers of art and history. First and foremost is the National Pinacoteca, which houses the most important collection of paintings by Sienese artists from the 13th to the 17th century. The Santa Maria della Scala is a museum complex converted from a former hospital and hosts exhibitions of sacred art, archaeology, and contemporary art.

Other interesting museums include the Museum of Natural History of the Academy of the Physiocrats, located in an ancient Camaldolese monastery, open since the second half of the 18th century, where you can admire geological, anatomical, botanical, and zoological specimens, including a 15-meter long whale skeleton, the Biccherne Museum, which is inside the State Archive, and the Salvador Dalí Museum Siena, which allows for exploration of the strong link between art and science in the works of the Spanish artist. Each city district can also boast its own personal museum, preserving sacred objects, historical documents, and the won palii.