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Piazza del Campo, Siena © Italian Tourist Board

Overview
Siena is a popular holiday destination. The red-brown stone of this medieval city throngs around Italy's finest old square, the Piazza del Campo. As old as the square itself are the traditions reverberating off its pavements twice yearly during the Palio delle Contrade. It is Italy's most colourful festival with rehearsals, processions and pageantry leading up to the climactic bare-back horse race around the Piazza. It is taken very seriously as it provides an outlet to the fierce rivalries that have raged for centuries among the town's 17 medieval districts. All of Siena's streets are a delight to explore while on holiday but some of its most notable landmarks include the Torre de Mangia, Palazzo Pubblico, the Duomo, Palazzo Piccolomini, Pinacoteca Nazionale and Museo dell'Opera. Torre del Mangia is the bell tower to the left of Palazzo Pubblico which stands at 330ft (102m), the second highest in Italy. It is named after the first bell ringer who was known for his infuriating idleness. The Palazzo Pubblico still serves as Siena's town hall although sections of it are open to the public. The Palazzo Piccolomini, built in 1460 for the prosperous Piccolomini family, contains Sienese state archives and financial records. The Pinacoteca Nazionale gallery is noted for its collection of works by artists of the Siena School. Siena's spectacular Duomo is unsurpassed amongst Italy's churches, built in full Gothic style. The carved pulpit panels, by Nicola Pisano, are magnificent depictions from The Life of Christ. Many of the original statues on the church's façade are copies; the originals are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

Nearby Attractions

Chianti Region

A circular route from Siena through the Chianti hills provides visitors to the region with a wonderfully scenic and sensory travel experience. The route covers the villages of the Chianti Classico wine region, garnished with ancient castles and rambling farmhouses. The vineyards and wooded...  see full details

Etruscan Sites

Attracted by the mineral wealth found in the regions of Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria, the Etruscans made their way to Italy around 900 BC. Traces of Etruscan civilisation can be found in their burial sites and in the artefacts found in their tombs....  see full details

Montepulciano

Montepulciano is Tuscany's highest hilltop town, built along a narrow limestone ridge at 1,950ft (605m) above sea level. Sheltered within the town's fortified walls are charming streets packed with Renaissance-style palaces and churches. Its most celebrated achievement is its Vino Nobile wines. Also of...  see full details

Activities

Cooking Lessons
Tuscany is known for its Italian culinary flair, and is home to many schools and holiday destinations offering Italian cookery lessons and courses. Visitors are invited to learn the delicious art of preparing and cooking homemade pasta, pizza, olive oil and Pecorino cheese. Many of the culinary institutes provide accommodation in exquisite villas, as well as planned excursions to vineyards and olive groves. The most popular places for cookery lessons in Tuscany are in the city of Florence or in the Lucca and Grosseto areas, both of which also offer historic sightseeing and various cultural experiences such as a 15th-century Franciscan monastery, traditional music, local theatre and art exhibitions. Lessons vary from introductory classes, which teach a basic knowledge of Italian food and wine, to advanced courses taught by top Italian chefs. The duration of the courses are also optional, offering anything from 3 days to a full week of lessons. This could be an opportunity to learn and taste Tuscan recipes that have been enjoyed through the ages, drenched in tradition and flavour.