Italy is beautiful. But if you decide to vacation in the country, you can’t exactly tour Italy from one end of its border to the other. No one has that sort of time. So if you wish to maximize your enjoyment, try to focus your trip.
Find a place in Italy which encapsulates everything that makes the country wonderful and then make an effort to visit its biggest attractions.
Must See Attractions in Siena
If you have to center your trip around just one location in Italy, Siena is the only logical answer. The city is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site which should give you an idea of what you can expect.
If you’re short on time and you don’t think you will find the opportunity to see everything that Siena has to offer, make these sights and attractions a priority:
1. Italy has great food. So don’t expect Siena to disappoint in that department. You don’t have to visit any particular eating joint to get the best of Siena’s cuisine.
Anyone of a dozen or more restaurants that serve ribollita soup, Cinta Senese, and the like are bound to give your trip the memorable flair it deserves.
Don’t forget to taste the wine and desserts. You can learn as much about Siena from its food as you can from its art and architecture.
2. Have you heard of the Palio Horse Race? It takes place at the Piazza del Campo. The medieval square has been a dominant factor in Siena’s social arena since the 1300s, housing markets, parties, political events and everything in between.
Any tour guide worth their salt will make Piazza del Campo the first attraction you visit. And it isn’t even that hard to find because of the prominence it enjoys in the city center.
3. The Public Palace is important to Siena’s citizens because it has always housed the city’s rulers. On its own, a visit to the palace might make you feel like you have been gifted a behind the scenes glimpse into the intricate workings of Siena’s government, though this isn’t actually the case.
And if seeing the abode that Siena’s rulers call home isn’t your cup of tea, you can still enjoy the Civic Museum which is also located within the palace.
The Civic Museum houses artistic works by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Some people might encourage you to visit the Church of San Domenico instead because of the Il Sodoma frescoes and the massive architecture.
But the Public Palace and the Civic Museum are equally fascinating.
4. Torre del Mangia isn’t for everyone. To appreciate it, you need to climb four hundred steps. If you hate heights, then Torre del Mangia has nothing to offer you besides its history and the origins of its name.
Otherwise, the view from the top is breathtaking. The whole city is arrayed below you. No other attraction can offer you such a view.
5. The Complex of Santa Maria della Scala began as a hospital that attracted orphans, sick people, the poor and other desperate souls. That is no longer the case. The complex of Santa Maria della Scala is now a museum.
It has altarpieces, frescoes, and various monumental areas. Expect to do quite a bit of walking. The museum occupies four floors.
6. The Cathedral is a work of art and more than deserving of your attention. The interior is wreathed in symbols and stories of a religious nature. The works of talented artists like Pinturichio and Michelangelo are on display. You don’t have to be a religious person to get a kick out of the Cathedral.
All of this assumes that you love art, history, architecture, and culture. But if none of those subjects appeal to you, Siena still has plenty of sights, sounds, and attractions to engage you.
The nightlife alone will make your trip worth the while. So many students from around the globe have made Siena’s wineries, clubs, and streets bright and vibrant places.
Sleep in a rental villa
Of course, it would make things much easier if you had a villa rental siena. People think it’s hard to find a nice villa to rent in Siena but that is only true if you are doing all the leg work on your own. Tuscanynowandmore.com exists to make such tasks easier.
They know all the relevant villa owners in the area and they will help you find the most comfortable villa in Siena, one with all the 21st Century trappings you desire.
You can party all night knowing full well that you have a luxurious villa to escape to once the sun comes up.
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