Siena walking tour & city guide

Piazza del Campo

Every street in Siena seems to lead to the Piazza del Campo, a sloping, shell-shaped square considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. It is divided into nine sections, representing the medieval Council of Nine that governed the city. At its lower end stands the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall, with frescoes inside and the slender Torre del Mangia, which you can climb for spectacular views.

Twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, the square hosts the Palio, a wild bareback horse race around the Campo between the city's neighborhoods, or contrade, preceded by days of pageantry and passion.

The Duomo and the contrade

Siena Cathedral is a masterpiece of Italian gothic, striped in black and white marble. Its floor is covered with inlaid marble panels, some uncovered only for a few weeks each year, and the Piccolomini Library is decorated with vivid frescoes. An ambitious plan to enlarge the cathedral was abandoned after the Black Death of 1348; the unfinished facade can be climbed for a view.

Each of Siena's 17 contrade has its own symbol, flag, church and fountain. Walking the lanes, you will see their colors and animal emblems everywhere.

Tuscany around Siena

Siena is surrounded by some of Tuscany's most beautiful landscapes, including the Chianti wine region and the Val d'Orcia with its cypress-lined roads and hill towns like Montalcino and Pienza. The center is closed to most traffic, so park outside the walls and explore on foot.