Sign in with Facebook"weekend in Siena" Siena by brendareed
Siena Travel Guide: 890 reviews and 2,681 photos
Siena is a beautiful Tuscan city set on a hill. I have been fortunate to have visited this city twice in the past year. My favorite thing in the city is the cathedral – it amazed me on my first visit and I was still enthralled on my second trip.
On our first visit, we were just doing the tourist thing – wandering the hilly streets, eating pizza and gelato, stopping at a few of the more popular sites. There was a parade from a neighboring town – drummers and flags – that were marching through the streets and ended up at the cathedral. You could hear the drums from wherever you were – pretty cool! We had a quick lunch at of pizza and soda before continuing (and later stopped for gelato!).
On my second trip to Siena, I was part of a university group and we were there to see the Renaissance art – so we toured the cathedral area (the Duomo, Crypt, Baptistry, and Cathedral Museum) and toured the Town Hall. It was a beautiful day and we all made some fond memories. We had lunch at a local restaurant that served such delicious homemade pasta and we climbed to the top of the cathedral façade (the one that was never finished) for a stunning view of the city and Tuscan countryside.
Siena is a beautiful city with some very friendly people – I wouldn’t hesitate to go again!
- Pros:the cathedral is the best I've seen
- Cons:as with most tourist towns, it can get crowded
- In a nutshell:We will be back!
Reviews (9)
when to take photos and when not to
Local Customs
(1)
There is lots of fine art in Siena – in museums, in churches, in other buildings, outside. And there are lots of people... more travel advice
eat some gelato!
Restaurants
(1)
Italians know how to make gelato and they know how to display it! While in Siena, my husband had to try it…you know,... more travel advice
Civic Museum in the Palazzo Pubblico
Things to Do
(7)
The Civic Museum is in the town hall and is full of art that mixes both the religious with the secular. While there is... more travel advice
Palazzo Pubblico - Siena's town hall
Things to Do
(7)
Siena’s town hall stands out in the Piazza del Campo – it is at the base of the shell shaped piazza and the building... more travel advice
Travelogues (2)
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Written Feb 9, 2012
8 photos
the floors in the cathedral
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Written Feb 9, 2012
8 photos
more on the Cathedral
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Comments (6)
I also liked this city a lot!
Thanks, Santi! I really do like that city and would love to return to spend more time there! Hope you are doing well! We just returned from Nice and Avignon (and warmer weather!) :-)
Brenda, loved your page on Siena. I left a detailed comment under the tip on the newly discovered frescoes.
Superb page, Brenda! Siena looks absolutely beautiful and I like your tips on the museums. Also the gelato looks amazing and reason enough to visit by itself!
Great page with good detail about the Duomo which is something I'd love to see. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent page! This is somewhere I really want to visit some day. I loved your detailed and enthusiastic description of the cathedral, as well as your great photos of it and the crypt frescoes! I was especially interested to see the Pisano pulpit since I loved the one in Pisa :-) I learned a lot too from your description of the font in the Baptistry and can see just what you mean about the depth in those carvings.
And your gelato photos are to die for!! Thankfully I am off to Italy (Gubbio and Bergamo) tomorrow and can indulge ;-))
WOW!!! Your photos of the interior things are absolutely fantastic!! Are these HDR? The contrasts are splendid!! Oh and was it allowed to take photos inside Palazzo Pubblico? I loved the allegory frescoes but thought it isn't allowed.