Top 5 in Siena

Day Tours in Siena, Tuscany: Best Citi Sights
The city Siena is considered an open-air museum and in fact since 1995 the entire city has been awarded the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The historic center has remained almost intact since the Middle Ages thanks to the city’s position and the fact that over the centuries it was opposed and then conquered by Florence that prevented its urban development, while safeguarding its architectural peculiarities, but also thanks to its wealth it derives from the banking activity that has thrived here since the 1400s and which has generated enormous wealth.
Siena also keeps alive its ancient traditions that relive in events such as Il Palio that attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world is a source of pride and competition among the Sienese, each of whom siding for the horse that represents its birth district. The city is in fact divided into 17 districts and the streets of the historic center are all indicated with the emblem of the district to which they belong.
The city is seen on foot due to the small size and with a nice walk you can admire its wonders. Having someone explain to us the main attractions is also recommended because every detail hides a detail and a good guide will help us to discover them.
Below are the descriptions of the 5 monuments not to be missed + 1 which will amaze you with its beauty and the sight you can enjoy:
Piazza del Campo
Fonte Gaia
The Town Hall
Torre Mangia
The Duomo of Siena
Basilica of San Domenico


Piazza del Campo

Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena and is one of the most famous squares in the world. Originally, from the Middle Ages, it was a space dedicated to the market, but today it is the most scenographic point of the city and the place where the famous Palio di Siena is held which is held on July 2nd and August 16th each year. most awaited by all the Sienese of all ages. The square has the shape of a shell and is slightly sloping, so as to make everything even more spectacular, with the floor completely covered in terracotta. In addition to being one of its kind on the sides overlook richly decorated buildings and almost an entire side is occupied by the Palazzo Comunale with the Magic Tower.
On the square there are pubs and restaurants where you can enjoy the fabulous view while enjoying a good pasta dish or an ice-cream. An alternative to enjoy the square is to sit on the ground directly on the floor of the square and admire the structure. Banchi di Sopra is the main course, then you can continue on Via di Città and Via dei Montanini.

Fonte Gaia

La Fonte Gaia is located in Piazza del Campo and is the largest decorated fountain in the city. Once it was different, but due to the lack of resistant material of which it was made (marble of the Sienese mountain) and the fact that in the square there were many activities including the market, the Palio, the medieval games, the fountain was ruined in the middle of the nineteenth century it was decided to replace it with a copy made of Carrara marble. At the same time it was decided to move it more centrally to the square. The pieces of the original fountain are kept in the Museum of Santa Maria della Scala, although they are not complete because of the damage that has occurred over the centuries.

 

Palazzo Comunale

The Palazzo Comunale or Palazzo Pubblico occupies a solid part of the south side of the Piazza del Campo and has represented the civil and administrative power of the city for centuries. It was built in the late thirteenth century at the behest of the Council of Nine that governed the city and already at that time it was intended that the building was monumental and soar above all others, so that with an edict it was forbidden to build larger buildings to ‘ inside the square, but at the same time he forced himself to build structures that were just as beautiful. The shape and slope of the square make the Palazzo Pubblico even more impressive.
The Palace is built in Gothic style with the wide façade of the building reflecting the various periods of construction and the central body raised above the rest of the building. The windows are in the typical Sienese style.
Inside the rooms are richly frescoed, in fact already under construction the best Sienese artists were busy because the city’s rulers wanted to demonstrate their prestige and the political power of Siena. Currently inside is the Civic Museum which houses an important gallery and preserves masterpieces of Sienese art of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.


Torre del Mangia

The Mangia tower is the civic tower of the Palazzo Comunale and is the second highest in Italy reaching a height of 102 meters. The tower reaches the same height as the Duomo of Siena and this symbolizes the balance between the powers: that of the Church and that of the Government without one prevailing over the other.
If you are trained you can climb up to the top and enjoy the wonderful view that you can see from the other.
The Tower houses the Bell that since the construction had the burden of marking the hours and events of the city, both religious and political as the death sentences, the curfew or the exit of the rulers.
Currently the bell is called “campanone” and was built in 1349 merging the previous one; the campanone rings 8 times a year on occasion of some city or national events and on the occasion of the general elections.

Siena Cathedral

The Duomo of Siena is a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art. It has a structure with a Latin cross, a dome and a bell tower, all decorated with white and black marbles that give it a majestic and eclectic appearance.
The façade has three large doors with a rose window and the top is adorned with spiers in the typical Gothic style at the top of which are placed central stutues.
The whole of the Duomo is full of treasures, first of all the floor that is full of esoteric symbols and religious stories. The floor is a complex of mosaics made between 1300 and 1800 using local marbles of multiple colors and is made up of 56 Tarsias, depictions, which have as a guiding thread the Salvation starting from those who will not have the Salvation or go to hell up to those who will have eternal salvation (Paradise)
The motif of the black and white sides of the façade also decorates the interior of the Cathedral and, raising your eyes to the ceiling, you will notice that you are under a starry sky. The view of the Duomo inside is definitely worth the visit.

Basilica of San Domenico

The basilica of San Domenico is a church that at first sight may appear very bare and of little interest, but it is one of the most important in Siena because it contains the relic of St. Catherine of Siena and in particular the Head and a finger of the most holy famous of Siena as well as Santa Patrona of Italy.
The basilica stands on the top of a hill and from its outside you can enjoy a splendid view of the Duomo and the Torre del Mangia. These are the two reasons why we think a visit to this church is not very popular but that reserves two pleasant surprises.
There are many things to see in Siena and doing it with an organized tour is the most convenient and safe way to see the city at its best; with Dolcevitatour  you can visit Siena on a tour of up to 7 people traveling in a comfortable and elegant Minivan.
With Our Private Day Trip you can enjoy the taste of Siena in one day.
Book a share in a confortable Minivan with maximum 7 people. We will bring you from your hotel and drive back to the end of the tour.
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But you can choose our private tour and taste the flavor of Siena alone or with your family or friends. Book it now:
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