Siena, Italy is located 200 kilometers north of Rome and 60 kilometers south of Florence. It lies at the heart of probably the most famous region in Italy called Tuscany.
Like the other popular tourist spots in Italy, Siena is accessible by train and bus and has hotels and other establishments for the convenience of foreign visitors. It is a medieval city that is rich in history and culture.
Tourists usually flock to Siena, Italy every summer, more specifically on the 2nd of July and 16th of August for the colorful horse race known as Il Palio. This traditional and unique horse race is run in the Campo of Siena.
Aside from Il Palio, Siena is also often visited for its magnificent classical concerts, also held during the summer at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana. These concerts showcase Sienese talent while exhibiting the city’s love for music as an art. And speaking of love for music and the arts, there is also a summer Siena Jazz Festival held in this beautiful city each year.
Other than musical festivals, Siena, Italy is also a favorite destination for tourists to marvel at the many architectural wonders that are also of historical value. One of these is the famous Piazza del Campo, also known as Il Campo, which is fan-shaped and located right in the heart of the city.
Il Campo is where you will find restaurants and cafes alongside historic buildings built on brick pavements. It is now Siena’s primary marketplace, although it was originally established as the Roman forum.
If you want to see a breathtaking view of the city, take the 505 steps up the Torre del Mangia bell tower, the second highest medieval bell tower in Italy at 102 meters tall. It is located in Palazzo Pubblico in Piazza del Campo.
For those who want to visit Siena, Italy for its rich art collection, the Pinacoteca Nazionale art museum should be on top of your list of places to go to. You will be amazed by its display of some of Italy’s greatest painting that date back to as early as the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Another piece of art in Siena that is a must see is the nineteenth century replica of the Fonte Gaia, a fifteenth century fountain skillfully carved by Jacopo della Quercia. It can be found just at the north end of the Piazza del Campo.
A trip to Siena, Italy is always a pleasurable experience. So if you want to experience Italy to the fullest, be sure to make Siena one for your stops.