The sights of Siena are interesting because many houses, palaces and temples have been preserved in their original form. Many of them were pardoned even by the bombings of World War II, which destroyed many architectural masterpieces. That is why there is no doubt that every stone in the historical part of the city, every house and temple is not the skillful work of restorers, but a real medieval rarity that has come down to us through the centuries.

Siena is the administrative center of the province (Toscana). Located in the northwest of (Roma), the capital of Italy, 184 km in a straight line. On a geographical map, it can be found at the following coordinates: 43°19′07″ north latitude, 11°19′54″ east longitude.

The area of ​​Siena is 118 km2, and consists of seventeen contradas (districts), each of which bears the name of an animal, has its own coat of arms and legend. The historical center is located at 6 km2. Since the Middle Ages, the city has retained the appearance of inaccessibility due to the surrounding walls and hills. The narrow streets of Siena are almost devoid of vegetation, but breathing is easy due to the fact that the center is closed to cars.

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central square

is the Piazza del Campo, built at the point where the three hills that Siena is located meet. It is distinguished from other squares by its unique shape: during the arrangement of Piazza del Campo, it was given the shape of a shell, the circumference of which is 333 m.

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The area owes a lot to such an original solution to the rain streams, which, descending from the hills, formed a kind of relief. Also, during the arrangement of the square, the authorities made sure that the buildings did not violate its plan. So, the Basilica of Peter and Paul (chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo) was demolished only because it protruded a little in comparison with the houses of the local aristocracy.

The first documented information about Piazza del Campo appeared in 1169, when it became necessary to put in order the area where the square is now located. At first, it was a single unit with the nearby Piazza del Mercato. But after a while, a wall was erected between them to hold back the convergence of rain flows.

Until the end of the XIII century. there was a bazaar on the square, fairs were held. In 1287, when the era of the "Tyranny of the Nine" began (the city was ruled by nine people, representatives of trading corporations), a need arose for a new mayor's office.

The construction of the Palace of the Commune (Palazzo Pubblico) on the square was the beginning of the emergence of other important institutions for the city. The most famous buildings here are the Glutton Tower (Torre del Mangia), the Piazza Chapel (Cappella di Piazza), the Fountain of Joy (Fonte Gaia), the Sansedoni Palace (Palazzo Sansedoni), the chapel (Cappella di Piazza).

(Palazzo Pubblico) is the central building of Campo Square. Previously, there was an old city ​​building"Bolgano" (palazzo del Bolgano), which was decided to expand and rebuild. So, if at first the main facade of the house faced Piazza del Mercat, after the reconstruction the front side of the city hall turned out to be in the opposite direction.

Although the end of construction dates back to the 14th century, after three hundred years it was decided to expand the Palace of the Commune by completing the side parts. At the same time, the facade was decorated.

During the construction of Palazzo Pubblico, the architects repeated the curve of the square. The central part has four floors and one tier above the side wings. In the center of the fourth floor there is a white circle on which the monogram of Christ is depicted. The roof of the building is a bit like a fortress: it has rectangular battlements.

The first floor is faced with white stone, the upper floors are finished with brick. Each window consists of three parts, which are framed by two small columns and three lancet arches. Above each of them is a vaulted arch, decorated with the coat of arms of Siena. To the numerous holes that are visible on all the walls of the town hall, scaffolding was once attached.

Palazzo Pubblico served for a long time as the city administration, which occupied all the rooms of the palace. Now the city hall is located only on the second tier. Below is the City Museum (Il Museo civico), where frescoes and other creations of local masters are kept. In the near future, the museum is planned to be equipped on the third tier. In addition to the museum, at the bottom of the town hall in the Great Council Hall is the Rinnovati Theater (Teatro dei Rinnovati).

The Tower of the Glutton (Torre del Mangia) closely adjoins the Palace of the Commune and is located on its left side. So strangely, the townspeople named the building in honor of the first guard of the sights, Giovanni di Balduccio. He was known for his indefatigable appetite, and therefore spent all his money on various delicacies.

Torre del Mangia is one of the tallest towers of the Middle Ages: if you take into account lightning rods, its height is 102 m. You can climb to the observation deck, which is located at a height of 88 m, by overcoming four hundred steps. From here you have a magnificent view of the surroundings.

The construction dates back to the first half of the 14th century: the tower began to be erected in 1338 and completed ten years later. To protect the attraction from thunder, hurricane and other misfortunes, happy moments and stones with protective inscriptions written in Latin and Hebrew were laid in the foundation of the building. In addition, during construction, the building was positioned so that its sides were clearly oriented to the west, south, north or east.

The bell appeared in the belfry in 1349. But its sound quality was not the best, so in 1634 it was replaced. But the new alarm left much to be desired, which is why thirty years later it was replaced by a bell, which is still in the bell tower today. Because of large sizes(and it weighs a little more than 6.5 tons), the townspeople installed it above the belfry. True, its sound is uneven, and depends on where the tongue of the bell strikes.

For several decades, the watchman beat the bell. Then, first a wooden mechanism appeared on the bell tower, then an automatic mechanism, which still announces the time. The bell itself sounds only on special holidays.

In 1360, a clock appeared on the tower. The dial was depicted on the tower half a century later, and in late XVIII Art. it was carved from stone and decorated with a fresco with a canopy (they were lost in the 20th century after restoration).

Chapel di Piazza

Chapel di Piazza (cappella di Piazza) is located on the first floor of the Glutton Tower. It is lined with white marble, effectively standing out against the background of the terracotta tower. Made in the Gothic style.

The construction of the chapel began in 1352, dedicating the Mother of God e, thanks to which the bubonic plague left Siena, which claimed the lives of many citizens (it happened in 1348).

The construction lasted for two decades, and was completed in 1376. After some time, the facade was decorated with sculptures, a canopy in the Renaissance style. In the XVI century. in the chapel there was a fresco by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi (Giovanni Antonio Bazzi), depicting the baby Jesus, the Mother of God and God the Father. Now the fresco is stored in the museum of the town hall.

The most notable private building in the square is the Sansedoni Palace (Palazzo Sansedoni). There is a house opposite the City Hall to the right of the Fountain of Joy.

The terracotta-colored building, built in the Gothic style, appeared here at the end of the 13th century. by order of Goro Sansedoni. For this purpose, five aristocratic houses located here were united. In the center of the composition is a high tower, which in the XVIII century. after the earthquake, it was greatly shortened due to fear that it might collapse.

Between the 17th and 18th centuries the house was restored, expanded, but the facade retained its features: its arcuate curve repeats the shape of Piazza del Campo. The interiors were redesigned, decorated with statues and frescoes. A chapel dedicated to Ambrogio Sansedoni, a monk who lived in the 12th century, has been preserved.

Now it houses the offices of the bank Fondazione Banca Monte dei Paschi.

The Fountain of Joy (Fonte Gaia) is located opposite the City Hall. It does not immediately catch the eye, and looks more like a pool lined with white marble, which can be clearly seen only from one side of the square. The fact is that the fountain is fenced on three sides with marble walls. They are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenes, as well as the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Two women can be seen on the front pilasters. One of them gave birth to Romulus and Remus (Romulus and Remus), the founders of Rome, the other raised (according to legend, Siena was founded by the son of Rem, Senius).

Fonte Gaia appeared at the beginning of the 15th century. and was originally intended as a pool for collecting water, which was brought here from underground channels.

It fills with water that flows from tubes clamped in the mouths of she-wolves.(they are located on the sides of the bowl). Special attention tourists are attracted by the clear bluish water splashing in the pool. The fountain owes its name to the joy that seized the townspeople when they saw water spouting from the ground here.

In the 19th century statues and panels were replaced with copies, and the pool itself was surrounded by a fence. Now the original elements of the fountain are stored in the Museum of the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital (Complesso museale di Santa Maria della Scala).

Churches

The main and most luxurious temple of Siena is the Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), which is located on the Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo). The rest of the temples look more ascetic, but are also interesting, because they were worked on by the most famous artists, architects, sculptors of Italy.

(Сattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta or Duomo di Siena) is the main church of the city, built on Cathedral Square. In ancient times, there was a temple here. The Romans demolished it and built a fortress, on the sides of which they equipped four towers. One of them was converted into a belfry during the construction of the Duomo di Siena. Before the beginning of the X century. here was the residence of the bishop.

The construction of the attraction began in 1220 and lasted a century and a half. In terms of the temple - a Latin cross. The front facade is lined with white marble, decorated with sculptural compositions. He is a good combination different styles gothic. The lower part of the temple is Roman, the upper part is late, the portals are French. The mosaics at the top of the church appeared in the 19th century. Above the central portal there is a huge round rose window, along the edges of which there are sculptures of prophets and apostles. On the sides of the window, on the right and left sides of the building, there are beautifully decorated galleries.

The rear façade and side walls are lined with white marble slabs with horizontal marble inlays. dark green. A twelve-sided dome rises above the crossroads, which is decorated with images of saints from the inside.

From the painting of the walls of the temple it is impossible to take your eyes off. The altar of the temple consists of three niches: at the bottom there are sculptures of the apostles of the work (Michelangelo), on the top - the sculpture of Jacopo della Quercia (Jacopo della Quercia) "Madonna and Child". In the left nave is the Piccolomini Library (Biblioteca Piccolomini).

The tower of the old fortress was converted into a belfry in 1333. Its height was 77 m. Like the outer walls of the temple, the bell tower was lined with white and green lines. The belfry has six rows of windows, the size of which increases with each successive tier (the narrowest at the bottom). A spire crowns the bell tower.

Crypt

The crypt of the Cathedral (Cripta del Duomo di Siena) is located on its territory. Despite the name, the relics are not stored here, although it is believed that the temple does indeed have a crypt that has not yet been discovered.

Presumably, the crypt appeared at the end of the XIII century. and was walled up during the expansion of the temple. That is why its presence remained a secret until 1999, when the crypt was discovered during restoration work. Here you can see a complete cycle of frescoes of the XIII century, which adorned the temple that was located here before the construction of the cathedral. They are distinguished by bright colors and well-preserved images of saints.

The Baptistery of St. John the Baptist (Battistero di San Giovanni) stands near the Cathedral. In order not to spoil the impression of the baptistery, it is better to visit it before visiting the Duomo di Siena. The attraction is located on Piazza San Giovanni.

The baptistery was built in 1325, and starting that year, all the townspeople, both aristocrats and commoners, were baptized here. Although the top floor of the attraction was never completed, the facade is a Gothic masterpiece. Like the Cathedral, it is lined with white marble with dark green bets, decorated with floral and geometric elements. Three portals lead to the building.

The hexagonal font was created in 1430 from marble and bronze. Its panels are decorated with bas-reliefs and sculptures by Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giovanni di Turino, Jacopo della Quercia.

Frescoes adorned the building in the middle of the 15th century. Vekchietta (Il Vecchietta), Michele di Matteo Lambertini (Michele di Matteo Lambertini), Benvenuto di Giovanni (Benvenuto di Giovanni), Piero Orioli (Pietro degli Orioli) worked on them.

Now the attraction is part of the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana. Paid entrance.

The Basilica of St. Dominic (Basilica di San Domenico) is located on Piazza San Domenico, 300 meters from Piazza del Campo. The attraction is located on a hill, and is clearly visible from many points of the city. And from the observation deck you can see the city center, including the Cathedral.

The church was founded by the Dominicans in 1226 and took two hundred years to build. The building is entirely made of red brick. Outside, it looks very ascetic, being an example of strictly Gothic architecture, which was typical for the buildings of mendicant orders. The bell tower appeared in the XIV century, but two centuries later it was damaged during an earthquake, after which it became lower.

You can only get into the church from the side, since the main facade is missing. Inside the temple is a richly decorated chapel. Here, behind a lattice glass, the head and finger of St. Catherine (Caterina Benincasa), who lived at the temple for most of her life, is kept. Therefore, there are many pilgrims in the church, and on its walls you can see paintings depicting episodes from the life of Caterina Benincasa.

The Basilica of St. Francis (Basilica di San Francesco) is located on Piazza San Francesco, half a kilometer from Piazza del Campo. It is better to see the temple before visiting the Cathedral, otherwise it will not impress: the Gothic building looks simple and ascetic.

The basilica was built in the middle of the XIII century. outside the city walls. In the city, she was only two hundred years later. The basilica was repeatedly expanded, completed and rebuilt. In the 18th century a bell tower appeared near it. The neo-Gothic façade appeared in late XIX Art.

The "Eucharistic miracle of Siena" is kept in the chapel of the temple. These are two hundred consecrated prosphora (liturgical liturgical bread) that were stolen in 1730. Some time later they were found in the church of Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano and returned to the church of St. Francis. They say that the prosphora is still fresh.

The Osservanza Basilica (Basilica dell'Osservanza) is built on top of the Colle della Capriola hill. It is on the outskirts of Siena, in the northeast of the city. The church is one of the most important temples of the city, which are located outside the city walls.

The temple was built in 1490 on the site of an old skete of the 12th century. Dedicated to Saint Bernardino of Siena (Bernardino da Siena), who died half a century earlier and lived on this hill. Five years later, the temple was expanded by order of Pandolfo Petrucci, who decided to make a family crypt here, and at the same time to equip the monastery.

During the siege of Siena in 1554, the monastery complex was completely destroyed, but the townspeople quickly restored it. In the twenties of the last century, the attraction underwent reconstruction. At the end of the Second World War, after the bombing of the temple, ruins remained. The complex was restored ten years later according to the drawings provided by the monks. Therefore, the temple has the same appearance as before the war.

Museums

Siena has a lot of museums. Many of them are located in the Cathedral Square area, as well as Piazza del Campo. Although the museum card is not valid in the city, you can save money. The fact is that combined tickets are popular in Siena, with which you can visit several expositions at once, which in the end will cost less.

That is why before buying a ticket to a particular museum, you need to ask at the box office about the availability of such an opportunity. For example, a ticket purchased to visit the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana also allows you to see the Cathedral, the crypt and the baptistery.

When visiting the museum, if you do not want to book an excursion, you should ask if there is an audio guide. This will make the visit more interesting.

The City Museum (Museo Civico) is located at the bottom of the Communal Palace, on Piazza del Campo. It appeared in the thirties of the last century.

Museum visitors can see the halls of the old town hall, decorated with famous Sienese. This is the Globe Hall (Sala del Consiglio), where the Council of the Republic of Siena once met. The name was given to it by a spinning disc with a map of the republic that was kept here earlier. The Hall of Nine, where meetings of this government took place, will also be of interest.

In the museum you can not only trace the history of Siena, but also get acquainted with the creations of famous Sienese masters. Above the frescoes that adorn the walls of the town hall, worked Simone Martini (Simone Martini) and Ambrogio Lorenzetti (Ambrogio Lorenzetti). The frescoes are interesting because most of them depict non-religious themes. The paintings tell about the various methods of governing the city, which can lead to its prosperity or decline.

Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana

Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana is located at Piazza del Duomo, 8. It is better to visit it after visiting the Cathedral, which is located on the same square.

Many original items are stored here, copies of which are exhibited in the Duomo di Siena. There are also copies of statues and mosaics that adorn the cathedral. Thanks to this, they can be clearly seen close up, which is impossible to do in the temple.

The halls of the museum contain marble statues of Donatello, Jacopo della Quercia, Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Of particular note is the altarpiece La Maestà by Duccio di Buoninsegna. It took the artist three years to make this masterpiece. At the same time, he concluded a special contract with the city, according to which he was not limited in expenses, but he had to work on La Maestà alone, without an assistant.

In addition to church attributes, art objects, in the halls of the museum you can see household items of the local aristocracy. Among them - carpets, tapestries, tablecloths, curtains handmade.

From the museum you can climb the unfinished facade of the new Cathedral (the building, grandiose in scale, was supposed to replace the old temple, but due to the plague and the decline of the city, it was never completed). From the top there is a magnificent view of the square and the surrounding area. This is the advantage of the museum over the cathedral, on the bell tower of which there is no observation deck. You can leave the museum through a beautifully decorated little baroque church.

To visit the museum, it is better to purchase a combined ticket. It will cost less and will also allow you to see the cathedral, the baptistery, the crypt.

The Santa Maria della Scala Hospital Museum (Complesso museale di Santa Maria della Scala) is located at Piazza del Duomo, 2. The exposition is located in the ninth century hospital-shelter, intended for the poor. It was called Ospedale di Santa Maria della Scala.

The museum on the territory of 13 thousand m2 was opened in 1995. It is very unusual and diverse, each hall is different: here are frescoes, here is a chapel, there are the relics of saints. A little further - underground labyrinths, then halls, narrow corridors. Big hall The former hospital is decorated with frescoes dating back to the 15th century, depicting the daily life of the orphanage. The center of the composition is the church of the Holy Annunciation (Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata), located at the hospital, built in the XIII century.

In addition, on its territory is the National Archaeological Museum of Siena (Museo Archeologico di Siena). You can also look at contemporary art.

To visit the museum, it is cheaper to take a combined ticket. It will allow you to visit a few more attractions.

The National Pinacoteca (Pinacoteca Nazionale) is located on Via San Pietro, 29. The exposition will appeal to people who are fond of medieval religious painting. There are many icons and paintings on a Christian theme, and only on the fourth floor you can see secular paintings.

The exposition is housed in two palaces, Palazzo Brigidi and Buonsignori (palazzi Brigidi e Buonsignori). The appearance of the first refers to the XIV century, the second - the XV century. The Pinakothek was opened here in 1932. The exposition is based on a collection of paintings by Abbe Giuseppe Ciaccheri(Giuseppe Ciaccheri), who lived at the end of the XVIII century. After that, she was replenished with canvases that were presented to the city by noble citizens. Almost all the exhibits of the museum are the creations of the painting school of Siena of the 13th-17th centuries, occasionally you can see the canvas of the 18th century.

On the fourth floor there is a collection of Spannocchi, which ended up in the museum in 1977. Here are the works of Flemish, Dutch, German and northern Italian painters. In the same year, a hall of sculptures by masters of the 14th-15th centuries was opened in the Pinakothek.

Torture Museum

The Museum of Torture (Museo della Tortura) is not for the faint of heart. So It is not recommended to bring children here. It is located a few meters from Piazza del Campo, at the bottom of the square on Chiasso del Bargello, 6.

Here are about two hundred types of torture instruments, which are located on two floors. There are few tormented bodies, so it doesn’t make a particularly bad impression. But nevertheless, several fake tormented bodies were exhibited for clarity, human skeletons and skulls. Information about the history of the exhibits is presented in Italian and English. You can also book a tour.

Houses

There are a lot of interesting palaces and houses in Siena. Among them stands out the house where St. Catherine, the patroness of Siena, lived in her childhood, the house where the city council met before the appearance of Palazzo Pubblico, as well as a commercial loggia. Despite the fact that it is unlikely to be able to get inside this attraction, it makes a stunning impression from the outside. The Medici fortress, which was built by the Florentines as a symbol of their final conquest of Siena, will also attract attention.

The house of Saint Catherine (Santuario cateriniano), the patroness of Siena, can be found on Costa di Sant'Antonio. Now it is a whole complex, which consists of loggias, galleries, arcades, chapels.

She was born in the second half of the 14th century, and lived in this house until she was tonsured. In 1466, the city bought the house and built a sanctuary here, which includes several chapels built on the site of a dye-works, a kitchen and other premises.

A chapel was equipped in the dyehouse, which later transformed into the Church of the Crucifixion (La chiesa del Crocifisso). Services are still held here. The walls of the temple are decorated with frescoes depicting paintings from the life of Catherine. Also here you can see a statue of a saint carved from wood.

Near the upper chapel, which was once the kitchen, and is now the front of the Church of the Crucifixion, are the orators' chambers (Oratorio della Camera). Near them is the saint's room, where some of her personal belongings are kept. A stone ledge can be seen on the floor, which she used as a pillow.

The Chigi-Saracini Palace (Palazzo Chigi-Saracini) can be found on Via di Citta’ 89. This is a building XII, which appeared by order of the influential family Marescotti (Marescotti). On the left side of the attraction you can see the tower, which in the Middle Ages signaled the financial well-being of the family. In the courtyard of the palace there is a well, a chapel, a portico, decorated with various paintings.

Before the advent of Palazzo Pubblico, the Council of the Republic of Siena met here. In the XVI century. The house was bought by the Piccolomini del Mandolo family. Two hundred years later, it was in the possession of the Saracini family, after which the building was expanded, and the facade acquired a curved shape that repeated the curve of the street.

At the end of the XIX century. the house was inherited by Fabio Chigi. In 1932, Count Guido Chigi Saracini established the Academy of Chigiana Music inside the building, where students from all over the world study.

Within the walls of the Academy there is a museum where paintings by famous Italian artists and sculptors are kept. Among them you can see the creations of Sandro Botticelli (Sandro Botticelli), Sassetta (Il Sassetta), Domenico Beccafumi (Domenico di Giacomo di Pace Beccafumi). Also here you can see jewelry and ceramics, a collection of musical instruments.

The trading loggia (Loggia della Mercanzia) can be found near Piazza del Campo, at the place where three streets intersect: Banchi di Sopra, Via di Citta, Banchi di Sotto. The commercial court used to sit here. Since the 18th century here is a closed club Circolo degli Uniti, so it's hard to get inside.

The loggia appeared at the beginning of the 15th century, and therefore combined elements of the Gothic and the Renaissance. The house itself is located behind the fence, which is a wide high arches connected by a lattice fence. The pillars between them are decorated with various bas-reliefs, statues of saints, patrons of Siena, as well as Peter and Paul. The vaults of the loggia are decorated with stucco and frescoes, the appearance of which dates back to the 16th century. The second floor appeared in the XVIII century. There are two benches made of marble in the courtyard in front of the house. One is decorated with reliefs signaling virtues, the other is decorated with famous Romans.

The Medici fortress (Fortezza Medicea) is known as the Fortress of St. Barbarians (Forte di Santa Barbara). The attraction is located on Piazza della Libertà, 800 meters from Piazza del Campo.

The citadel is a symbol of the end of the Republic of Siena and the final conquest of the city by the Florentines. The order for its construction was given in 1561 by the ruler (Firenze) (Cosimo I de’ Medici). The place of construction was not chosen by chance: there used to be a Spanish fortress here, which the townspeople had destroyed a few years before. The citadel was completed in 1563.

The result was a powerful brick structure of a rectangular shape. Its width from the outer side was 200 m, length - 270 m. Bastions rose in the corners. Three of them bear the coat of arms of the new owner of Siena. Platforms were also equipped to allow heavy artillery to be fired from cover.

At the end of the XVIII century. Fortezza Medicea was disarmed. In 1937, a city garden was arranged on the territory of the fort, walking along which you can admire the city and its surroundings.

The citadel itself has become a museum: temporary exhibitions are often held within its walls, a library and an audio archive are located. Also here is the Siena Jazz Association (associazione Siena Jazz), which constantly holds concerts and lectures for musicians. In the dungeons of the fortress there is a shop where you can taste and, if you wish, buy expensive wines.

Rinnovati Theater

The Rinnovati Theater (Teatro dei Rinnovati) is the largest theater in Siena.: it is designed for 549 seats. The temple of Melpomene is located on the first floor of Palazzo Pubblico, on Piazza del Campo.

The history of the Teatro dei Rinnovati began in 1536, when King Charles V (Carlo V) decided to organize a major celebration in the city. There was no theater in Siena then, and therefore it was decided to equip it in one of the halls of the town hall, setting up a stage and equipping the seats. A hundred years later, the hall underwent a significant reconstruction: 107 boxes were equipped in it.

In 1742 the theater burned down, was rebuilt and reopened ten years later. But a year later, a fire again destroyed a significant part of the hall. This time, the work did not last long, and the theater was reopened to the public in the summer of 1753.

The disasters of the Melpomene temple did not end there: the earthquake of 1798 severely damaged it. This was the reason that the club of aristocrats l'Accademia degli Intronati, to which the theater belonged, sold it to the Rinnovati Academy - and the hall was restored. In the 19th century the room was reconstructed more than once (the royal box, stage, dressing rooms were redone, the decor was updated).

In 1927 the Rinnovati theater was closed and sold to the city. Ten years later, robots began to protect the building from fire. During World War II, the restoration was suspended, but resumed after the war.

The opening of the theater in 1950 was timed to the week of music in Siena. After that, it never closed again.

City fortifications

The walls of Siena (Mura di Siena) are a defensive circular fortification, consisting of walls, towers and bastions that surround the medieval part of Siena. That is why you can get to the historical center through numerous portals.

The townspeople built the defensive walls of Siena over several centuries (VIII-XV centuries) in five stages, as the inhabitants increased. Mura di Siena has one peculiarity: usually, as the city grew, new walls were erected around the old ones, taking them into a ring, and then dismantling them. Here, additional sections were simply added to the already existing walls, which surrounded the new part of the city without destroying the old line of fortifications. Many walls, as well as the gates leading to Siena, have survived to this day.

parks

Medieval Siena has very little vegetation. But not far from the center you can find several parks where you can have a good rest in nature. This is the botanical garden, All'Orto de'Pecci, giardini la Liza, giardini Publici.

All'Orto de'Pecci

You can relax from the bustle of the city in All’Orto de’ Pecci, the entrance to which is located on Via di Porta Giustizia, 39, a five-minute walk from Piazza del Campo. This is a small and cozy garden where peacocks, donkeys, goats roam in summer.

You can’t organize a picnic here (it’s monitored), but you can visit an inexpensive restaurant. Two pizzas, two beers and a cola will cost 22 euros here. True, in the season it is completely packed and there may not be a free table. The garden offers a beautiful view of the historical center, first of all, the Obzhora tower and the city hall are clearly visible.

Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden of Siena (Orto Botanico dell'Università di Siena) entrance fee. Therefore, he received a lot of criticism from tourists who, having paid 5 euros, found him somewhat unkempt. Nevertheless, lovers of exotic flora will like it here.

Here you can see insectivorous plants, rare flowers, a rock garden, a fern forest. At the entrance to the park there are two pools with aquatic plants.

The Botanical Garden covers an area of ​​2.5 hectares. The main entrance is located on Via Pier Andrea Mattioli, 4, half a kilometer from the Cathedral. Open daily.

A botanical garden appeared in Siena in 1588, when, on the initiative of the local university, medicinal plants began to be grown near the hospital of Santa Maria della Scala.

Two centuries later, the botanists began to lack the territory, and it was decided to move the garden to its current location. Already in the first report published on the work of the garden, it was reported that there were nine hundred species of flora from different parts of the world. For plants that did not suit the local climate, special greenhouses were equipped.

What is Palio

One of the most interesting events that take place in Siena is the Palio races (Il Palio), in which seventeen contrades of Siena participate. To this end, Piazza del Campo is covered with sand along the perimeter, which is removed at the end of the jump. A costumed parade is organized before the competition.

10 out of 17 concards take part in the Palio. To determine which of them will participate in the races, representatives of the districts draw lots before the competition. Interestingly, during the races, the horses are not the main ones, but the horses: even if the jockey fell, and the horse continued to run and won, he won. Sienese riders are rare: jockeys from other cities are invited to participate in the Palio.

Competitions are held twice a year. For the first time - July 2 in honor of the Madonna of Provenzano, who saved Siena from the invaders. The second act takes place on August 16, in honor of the Ascension of the Virgin. Sometimes, for some special occasion (transition to a new century, anniversary of the unification of Italy), additional races are organized.

How to get there

Although Siena is located in the center of Tuscany and there are many attractions, it is located away from the main tourist routes. Therefore, the nearest airports that serve domestic and international lines are located an hour or two from the city. But there is a bus station where international buses arrive, as well as a railway station where regional trains arrive.

• See instructions:

Airplane

There is a small airport "Siena Ampugnano" nine kilometers from Siena, but passenger planes do not fly here: it is mainly used for private and business flights. So, to get to Siena, you need to take a plane ticket that flies to Florence or (Pisa). You can also drive from Rome (), but the road will take two hours: along the highway, the distance between cities is 268 km.

The distance between Florence and Siena is 80 km. This is an hour drive by car, we recommend that you arrange a rental in advance at

From L’Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola airport, you need to get by minibus to the Santa Maria Novella railway station (Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella) and take a train ticket. Better on a straight line, but if it doesn’t work out, then you need to change at the Empoli station. Near the railway station, on via Santa Caterina da Siena, 15, there is a bus station. Here you can buy a bus ticket that goes directly to Siena.

The railway station (La stazione di Siena) is located in piazza Carlo Rosselli, 2.5 km from Piazza del Campo. Trains come here from different parts of Tuscany. For example, from Florence you can get here in an hour and a half.

You can find more information about the train schedule here: www.e656.net/orario/stazione/siena. In this case, you should pay attention that in the upper left corner you need to click on one of the four windows, which indicates the time of the approximate departure of trains: 00-06, 06-12, 12-18, 18-24.

There is no direct communication with Rome. That is why you need to go with a change at the station (Grosseto) or Chiusi - Chianciano Terme (Chiusi-Chianciano Terme).

The railway station of Siena is located at a distance of two kilometers from the center, so you can walk (the walk will take half an hour). It is also possible to wait for the bus that goes to Piazza Antonio Gramsci or take a taxi (about eight euros).

Bus

From here, a ten minute walk to the Cathedral. In appearance, the bus station is more like a bus station: there are several platforms, closer to the city center - a scoreboard. In the middle is an elevator that takes you down to the ticket office. You can also get to them by crossing the road and going down the stairs.

Here you can buy bus tickets to another city, which will need to be stamped at the entrance to the bus. Tickets are not sold on the bus itself.
If you are going to use the bus when traveling to another city, you should keep in mind that although officially it arrives faster than the train, if it gets stuck in a traffic jam, the arrival may be significantly late. Therefore, if a business meeting is planned, it is better to give preference to the train.

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Sienna is a beautiful city in the province of Tuscany, which has been competing for a long time for the place of the most cultural, charming, scientific or commercial center. This, by the way, stimulated the development of the city. Siena has become for me a town with an interesting history, thanks to the surviving photos I have seen and the sights that convey the spirit and atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

Today I will try to introduce you to this incredible place in Tuscany and tell you where you can have a good rest with children.

Cultural and historical sights

For many centuries, the Sienese tried carefully keep the Gothic look of the city, the creation of which dates back to the XII-XV centuries, for which many thanks to them. After all, this is one of the few cities that has preserved history in its sights. Siena was able to save the unshakable art that time. There are many famous and talented artists among the graduates of the Siena School. I will share what exactly impressed me the sights of Siena.

Architecture

Palazzo Publico- the palace, which houses the municipality of the city, is simply impossible to pass by. It was built at the beginning XIV century and liked its long, slightly concave facade, crowned with battlements, a bit reminiscent of a fortress. The elegance of the palace appearance was achieved through large windows with openwork bindings. The hand of the most talented master is visible in a large solar disk with the monogram of Christ on the facade of the building. The palace also attracts with the snow-white marble chapel adjoining it in honor of the Virgin Mary, the corner 102-meter bell tower of La Manja, unusually elegant and slender, the upper part of which is marble. Overcoming 500 steps, smog admire the beautiful panorama of the city on the observation deck.

Palazzo Salimbeni- Another historical building, very similar to the old fortress, which is occupied by the office of the oldest bank "Monte dei Paschi di Siena". The three-storey palace was built in XIV century, but already in the 19th century it was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style and decorated with some elements resembling battlements, blind arches and triple vaulted windows, which the architect received inspiration from what he saw at Palazzo Pubblico. Already in the following century, the building received a new Gothic look thanks to the architect Pierluigi Spadolini and on behalf of the bank's leaders. On the middle floor, you can see wonderful windows, and they impress with lancet arches and coats of arms of the noble families of the city.

The luxurious estate of the 17th century shocked me with its architecture - Villa Cetinale. At first it was a modest dwelling with agricultural land, and then, towards the end of the 17th century, the architect Carlo Fontana gave the building a Baroque style and for two and a half centuries the estate was owned by the Kiji-Zonadadari family. Only in the second half of the 20th century, the Englishman Anthony Lambton bought the villa and carefully restored it. He also puts in order the garden around it, which has six alleys with various monuments and statues.

I advise you to take the time to inspect such other structures:

• Palaces of Sansedoni in front of the Palace of the Commune, Chigi Saracini near the main square of Campo, Chigi Zondadari and d'Elci degli Alessi in Piazza Campo, Piccolomini on Banchi di Sotto, Spannocchi on Via Banchi di Sopra and Tantucci in Piazza Salimbena.
• city ​​gate San Marco on Via Massetana.
• Double entrance gates to the contrada Panthera in the historical part of the city.
• Abbey of San Galgano 30 kilometers from Siena.

monuments

Center of Salimbeni Square rich in many historical objects, and Monument to Sallusto Bandini is one of them. It was installed in honor of an outstanding religious figure, politician and economist of the 18th century, who took a place of honor in Italy. Sallusto did a lot for Siena, for example, he founded city ​​library, handing over many collections of books and scientific papers. The statue, made of marble and decorated with columns and stucco elements, dates back to 1882, its creator was sculptor Tito Sarrocchi.

Monument to Sallusto Bandini
Facade of one of the houses Place de la Conte attracted by the installed cottage icon with depiction of the Virgin Mary known as the Madonna of the Raven. It received this name because in 1348 a dead raven was found in the same place, which became a harbinger of a terrible plague. Of the 80 contrades of Siena, not so many survived after the plague. This monument reminds many of the history of the city.

Also look for interesting monuments around the city:

• She-Wolf Contrades.
• Fountains of Contrada Panthera and Turtle Contrades.

Museums

I am very glad that I managed to visit Campo Square City Museum of Siena located in the building of the ancient Palazzo Pubblico. The museum has real masterpieces of the masters of the Sienese school of the XIV-XVI centuries - sculptures, coins, weapons, jewelry, clay and ceramic products.

In a section called Peace Room I was able to see the grandiose "Maesta" and the famous "Guidoriccio da Fogliano" by Simone Martini.

In the neighboring Room of nine, where the legendary Council of Nine met in the XIII-XIV centuries, there are frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, which adorn the walls very beautifully.

Surprised that for an art gallery - National Pinakothek- two buildings were allocated. The highlight is the medieval palace of Buonsignori, built in the 15th century in the late Gothic style, which is visible in the elements of the facade. Another - the construction of the XIV century - Palazzo Brigidi, which was previously owned by the Pannokieschi family. Inside you can find a diverse collection of paintings from Giuseppe Caccheri, di Paolo, Memmi, Buoninsegna, Sodoma and both Lorenzetti. Among the exhibits of the gallery there are many works of famous Dutch, Flemings and, as well as permanent exhibition Sienese sculpture of the XIV-XV centuries.

Take the time to see also:

• Museum Complex Santa Maria della Scala on Via Francigena.
• Museum of the Opera del Duomo in the arcades of the right nave of the New Duomo.
• Museum Contrada Tower next to the headquarters of the Contrada.

Religious buildings

Stand out from the background of other sights of Siena her Cathedral. The construction of this cross-domed Gothic temple dates back to the middle XIII century. The dome lantern of the cathedral was made the greatest master baroque by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The cathedral surprised me with its whiteness, which was made possible by the marble facade, but in some places this richly decorated facade also has elements of red marble. Inside the cathedral, I was impressed by the mosaic floor and statue of John the Baptist by Donatello.

No less majestic Basilica of Saint Dominic(San Domenico), which dates back to the XIII century and was built for almost 30 years, but already in the XIV century the building was expanded and given the features of the Gothic style. In the subsequent time, the church was subjected to fires, then destruction, and in each case received its own special style. So, in the XVII-XVIII centuries, it was transformed into a baroque style. Rank of minor basilica temple received in 1925 year by ourselves Pope Pius XI. Today, one of the main shrines that many people want to look at when visiting it is the relics of St. Catherine of Siena.

If possible, do not pass by such religious buildings:

• Churches of Our Lady of the Rosary on the territory of the contrada "Snail".
• Basilicas of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi in Via Val di Montone.
• Churches of Santa Maria di Provenzano in Piazza Provenzano Salvani.

• Baptistery of San Giovanni near Siena Cathedral.
• Churches of San Sebastiano on Via Fosso di Sant'Ansano.
• Churches of Saint Augustine at the end of Via San Pietro.
• Churches of Saint Christopher in Tolomei Square.

What can a tourist see in Siena in 1 day

In Siena, many attractions are concentrated in one place, so use this itinerary list so as not to waste time.

• Piazza del Campo, where most of the historical sites are located, including the city hall - Palazzo Pubblico and the slender tower of Torre del Mangia.
• In the building of the Publico Palace - Civico City Museum.
• On the same square piccolomini palace and Chigi Saracini Castle.
• In Piazza Duomo next to Piazza Campo - Siena Cathedral with white marble lace facade, Baptistery of John the Baptist and Hospital Santa Maria della Scala.
• From the main entrance to the Cathedral of Siena, turn right - Basilica of St. Dominica with the relics of Catherine of Siena and very close Basilica of St. Francis.

Video about the city of Siena and its attractions

small, narrow streets and old churches, many fountains with sculptures of animals - symbols of the districts. But the area in Siena that captivated me the most was the area where you can just lie down ... I think you will like it too!

Where to go with children

Siena is a very historical place, but still we found objects where you can have fun with your child.

• Botanical Garden with fruits, olives and Chianti grapes, tropical plant species in three greenhouses, as well as a rock garden and a fern forest.
• Many shops with traditional panforte (classic) and panpepato (chocolate) sweets that your sweet tooth will love.
• Cultural landscape of Val d'Orcia with incredibly beautiful nature, Mount Amiata and a World Heritage Site - the town of Pienza. The child will remember these beauties for a long time.
• Siena countertrades- find all of them. It will be very exciting.

Siena countertrades

It is true they say that you truly appreciate all the beauty of the city only after some time, as you visit it. So it was in my case with Siena, whose historical sights are really amazing. What else would you recommend to see in Siena and where is it worth visiting? I look forward to your suggestions in the comments.

(central Italy), it has preserved medieval monuments and architectural structures, thanks to which the historical center Siena called an open air museum. Here you can see red brick buildings, bell towers, as well as a wonderful artistic heritage in the form of frescoes and paintings.

• Population Siena is approximately 55 thousand inhabitants.

The heart and symbol of Siena is undoubtedly the Piazza del Campo, which is home to many magnificent sights.

Every year, a lot of various events and exhibitions (musical, cultural and gastronomic) take place here.

Economy of Siena mainly built on tourism (hotels, restaurants and other service industries), agriculture (winemaking, olive oil production), handicraft activities (weaving, pottery, sculpture, leatherworking) and light industry (pharmaceuticals, confectionery, household appliances) .

For tourists with disabilities Siena special attention (in terms of equipment) - this applies to public transport, cinemas, theaters and museums.

How to get to Siena

By train from cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples (etc.), Siena can only be reached with a change, and possibly more than one. City rail the station is located about two kilometers from the historic center.

There are two railway stations in Siena "Siena" and "Siena Industrial Zone" ("Siena" and "Siena Zona Industriale")

Siena Ampugnano airport is only 9 km from the city, but unfortunately it is not international.

Book a cheap flight from Moscow

• Nearest intercontinental airports:

Florence (80 km);
(160 km);
Bologna (170 km);
Rome (about 268 km).

Many tourists, in general, immediately fly to the airport of Florence or Pisa, after which they get to Siena by plane, bus, car or train.

• How far is Siena from other cities:

660 km
170 km
Florence 70 km
290 km
Milan 365 km
Naples 430 km
Palermo 1140 km
Rome 268 km
450 km
450 km
Venice 325 km

Transport in Siena

Due to the fact that car traffic is limited in the city, it is very common here bike rent. As a rule, almost all hotels offer this service, but if you are traveling on your own, Via Dei Gazzani 16 has a great place where you can rent a bike or scooter. The cost of the bike will be 10.00 – 15.00 € per day or 150.00 € per month.

Holidays in Siena

On July 2 and August 16 in Siena at Piazza del Campo, races take place between different areas of the city, and are called "Palio di Siena"(Palio di Siena). The tradition of holding the Palio dates back to the Middle Ages, and is one of the most important events in the life of the city.

Ten riders complete the race on horseback (bareback) lasting only a few seconds, but still this event attracts a large number of tourists from Italy, and indeed from all over Europe. Although various animal rights organizations consider these races unethical.

Culinary traditions of Siena

Central Italy, and in particular the city of Siena, carries its culinary traditions from the Middle Ages, they include many different dishes prepared in accordance with the most ancient traditions of Italy, but despite this, the cooking of Siena is very simple, it is really very tasty, and the main ingredients are meat, vegetables, spices and herbs. And almost every restaurant in Siena is able to offer something unique.

As we know, amazing delicious dessert Tiramisu was "invented" in Italy, but Siena's local pastry chefs claim that only they could have come up with such a delicious treat (although this is a moot point).

Another delicious, seasonal product unique to Siena is this sweet bread with walnuts and raisins (Pan co’ Santi), literally translated as “Bread of the Saints”, so named because it is baked on All Saints’ Day (November 1st).

Tuscan wines deservedly considered one of the best in Italy, they can be purchased everywhere. Here are a few of them: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Superiore, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino ), Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vin Santo, Valdarbia.

Parking in Siena

If you are traveling by car, you should be aware that there are both paid and free parking lots. Paid parking lots are very expensive at around 1.60€ per hour, 30.00€ per day and 74.00€ for 3 days. Many paid parking lots are within walking distance of Siena's main attractions. One of the largest paid parking lots is located near the Siena railway station, at the same time it is the most inexpensive 0.50 €, but only for the first hour, the second hour and subsequent will cost 2.00 €.

Another important point, the center of Siena can only be reached on foot.

The most popular excursions from Siena

• Florence is located 75 km from Siena - here, historical buildings and museums are presented to tourists. Order group and individual excursions online.
• Certaldo is 46 km away - this town, which has preserved its medieval appearance, is the birthplace of the Italian writer and poet Giovanni Boccaccio, there is also the opportunity to visit his house, which can be reached by funicular that departs from the central square of the new city.
• Volterra is 53 km away - and is known for its historical monuments from alabaster. Especially popular with tourists are the Etruscan Museum, Art Gallery, Museum of Sacred Art, Alabaster Museum.
• Cortona, 73 km, is the "custodian" of important medieval and renaissance buildings. Also don't miss the museum of the Etruscan Academy.
• Arezzo, 86 km from Siena, is famous for its 13th-century church of San Francesco, whose interior is decorated with stunning frescoes and paintings.
• Pisa 147 km - the main attraction of Pisa is of course the Piazza del Duomo, known as the "Field of Miracles" - which houses a number of famous historical buildings: the Duomo, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery and the cemetery. Of course, there are many interesting things in other parts of the city.

Shopping in Siena

We know that Italy is one of the leading countries in the field of designer products, and Siena is a vivid confirmation of this, here any tourist can find what he needs - clothes, shoes, food, liquor stores, creations of local craftsmen and artisans.

Local Italians advise, and they themselves prefer to start shopping in Siena from the streets: Via di Citta, Banki di Sopra and Via Montanini, in addition to shops you will also find many cafes, restaurants and pizzerias suitable for relaxing between shopping.

In general, it is very pleasant to shop in Italy, the sellers are always very kind, especially if the seller is the owner of the store himself. But of course there are exceptions to the rule. And it is especially pleasant to shop in Siena during seasonal sale time(in July and January).

Also in Siena you can visit the weekly open market, every Wednesday at La Lizza from 08:00 to 13:00. Here you can find clothes, shoes, bags, household items, flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, all at a reasonable price. The antiques market takes place on the Market Square, on the third Sunday of every month.

Prices in Siena

products	Price in €
bread	1,40
butter 250 grams	1,40
milk 1 liter	1,30
mineral water 1 liter	From 0.30
coca-cola 1 can	1,50
beer 1 bottle	1,80

• Lunch at a restaurant will cost an average of 25.00 €.
• , with cornet and coffee (or cappuccino) costs about 2.00 -3.00 €.
• Delicious Italian ice cream costs 1.70 €.
• A slice of pizza or pizza in eateries will cost 1.10 - 1.50 €.
• A call from to the numbers of local mobile operators will cost an average of 0.30 €.
• A single trip in public transport will cost 0.90 €, and a monthly pass will cost 24.00 €.
• Here you will also find many Internet cafes, one hour of which will cost you about 5.00 €.

Hotels in Siena

Without a doubt, an unforgettable holiday depends on choosing the right place to stay, so start searching and compare hotel prices in advance using the most popular Booking service, or use their search form, which is located on our website :

Weather in Siena

In July and August, you can be sure that in Siena, as in all of Italy, it will be very hot, even suffocatingly hot, due to the high humidity. At this time of the year, big cities like Rome turn into ovens.

It can also be hot in September and even in October. And I always said and I say the best time to visit Italy - autumn.

Winters in Siena can be very cold and humid. And in March, azaleas and camellias begin to bloom.

Finally, I suggest watching an interesting video about Siena: