Things to do in Siena
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Top 10 attractions in Siena
Siena Cathedral
Located in the historical, artistic and cultural center of Siena, the Cathedral is an example of Italian Roman and Gothic churches. As one of the largest churches in Italy, Siena Cathedral is still a church that is not fully completed according to its design. The marble floor in the church depicts history and biblical stories. These 56 floors were completed by many artists. The earliest sculpture was made of white carved marble filled with black stucco. The precious floor is only in Exhibited at certain times of the year. The exterior walls of the building are dominated by stripes of white and dark green marble, and the front is decorated with ornate façade statues, but most of these are replicas, and the originals are kept in the Opera Museum in the cathedral. The stained-glass windows in the cathedral are also very beautiful, but the important one from Duccio di Bonissegna is now in the Opera Museum. The Piccolomini Family Library (Libreria Piccolomini) is another highlight in the cathedral, with a series of frescoes depicting Piccolomini's life, which is very impressive. Next to the library is the Baptistery of St. John (BattisterodiSanGiovanni). The frescoed crypt (Cripta), located below the pulpit, was not discovered until 1999. Cathedral Opera Museum The Cathedral Opera Museum (Museodell'Opera) is one of the earliest private museums in Italy. The location of this church should be the original design of the nave corridor, but because it was not completed, a wall was built into a museum. Many original works of art in the cathedral are collected in the museum, and from here, you can climb the 131 stairs to reach the half-built vertical wall (Panoramadal Facciatone) to enjoy the panoramic view of the whole cathedral. Church masterpieces Some masterpieces in the cathedral: P. Lorenzetti (PietroLorenzetti): "Birthof the Virgin" (Birthof the Virgin), Duccio di Buoninsegna (Ducciodi Buoninsegna): "Sacred Cathedral of Siena" "(Maestà del Duomo di Siena), Donatello (Donatello): "Madonna of Forgiveness", are stored in the Cathedral Opera Museum.Siena · 193m from downtown
Historic Center of Siena
Historic Center of Siena sits at the intersection of three hills. In the Middle Ages, it became a pivotal city in Italy thanks to banking and trade, and it long rivaled neighboring Florence. This competitive spirit is etched into the city's bones—while its rival embraced the Renaissance, the people of Siena insisted on continuing the Gothic ideal, allowing the old town's medieval character to be preserved almost exactly as it was. The architecture of the old town is highly uniform, with ochre-red brick walls set against distant grey-green hills. Narrow alleys rise and fall with the terrain, and Gothic arcades and ancient fountains at street corners form a continuous landscape. The heart of the city is the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the brick paving is divided into nine sections that slope gently toward the town hall. The Palio horse race is held twice every summer on this slope, with riders representing their respective districts racing around the track, a city tradition that has continued for hundreds of years. You can climb the town hall and the towering Torre del Mangia next to the square to overlook the layers of red roofs and the Tuscan countryside. The Fonte Gaia by the square is a public water source passed down from the Middle Ages. Continuing up the slope, you will find the Siena Cathedral, where the black and white marble stripes are taken from the city's coat of arms, and the magnificent facade and striped columns are unforgettable. The Great Plague in the mid-14th century brought the ambitious expansion project to an abrupt halt, and the remaining unfinished facade has instead become a unique footnote to this ancient city.Siena · 39m from downtown
Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is the heart of the Historic Center of Siena and one of the best-preserved medieval squares in Italy. The name "Campo" comes from its early days as an open space used for markets by the surrounding hillside settlements, and it remains a stage for the city's public life today. The square is shell-shaped, with red brick paving laid in a herringbone pattern. White stone lines fan out from the drain in front of the town hall, dividing the ground into nine sections that symbolize the Council of Nine that ruled medieval Siena; the outlines of the noble residences surrounding the square are uniform, and the Tower of Mangia rises high beside the town hall, offering a panoramic view of the red-tiled roofs across the city from its summit. The Fonte Gaia in the northwest corner is based on the design of Renaissance sculptor Jacopo della Quercia, and its white marble is adorned with reliefs, making it another focal point on the square worth a closer look. Every summer, a dirt track is laid here, transforming it into the venue for the Palio horse race, a tradition that has continued for hundreds of years, where riders representing their respective districts race around the track; on ordinary days, it serves as a public space where locals sit and soak up the sun.Siena · 87m from downtown
Tower of Mangia
Tower of Mangia is a tower located in the city center of Siena, Italy, and is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Visitors can climb the many steps to the top to enjoy views of the city and the surrounding countryside.Siena · 137m from downtown
Palazzo Pubblico
Palazzo Pubblico is located on Piazza del Campo in the center of Siena. Built starting in 1297, it is a medieval building influenced by the Gothic style. The building was originally intended to house the republican government, which consisted of the Podestà and the Council of Nine. The lower level of the building is made of stone, while the upper level is made of brick; the facade is slightly curved and features neatly arranged, evenly distributed openings. The central part of the facade features two levels of Gothic pointed-arch triple windows, while the second level is lined with Lombard-style blind arches on both sides and at the top.Siena · 137m from downtown
Fortezza Medicea
Fortezza Medicea, located in the city of Siena in the Tuscany region of Italy, is a historic fortress that embodies the military architectural style of the Renaissance. Built in the 16th century, this fortress was commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence, to consolidate the Medici family's control over Siena. The design of the fortress blends military defense with architectural aesthetics, with its thick stone walls and sturdy structure demonstrating the advanced architectural techniques of the time. The fortress features a quadrilateral structure, with a protruding bastion at each corner that provides a wide field of view and defensive advantages. This design not only reflects its military function but also the Medici family's emphasis on power and security. Today, Fortezza Medicea is not only a historical site but also a cultural and recreational venue. The vast space within the fortress has been transformed into a venue for hosting various events and festivals.Siena · 705m from downtown
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
• Known as the main church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Florence and the third largest church in the world • Consisting of the main church, bell tower and baptistery, it is not only large in scale, but also a representative building of the entire early Renaissance • The cathedral has a 19th-century Gothic Revival-style facade. Its exterior is paved with marble blocks of different shades of white, green and pink. The colors are colorful and harmonious △ In 1982, the cathedral was listed as a World Cultural Heritage as part of the historical center of Florence. After entering the church, you can climb up to the dome from the small door on the side. You need to climb 463 steps, and then overlook the entire city of Florence. △ The bell tower of the church is a Gothic building, 85 meters high. It consists of a six-story square structure stacked upward into a column. The outer wall is paved with white marble, which is pure and elegant, bringing more momentum to the majestic church.Florence · 50.9km from Siena
Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982. The square has been the city's religious center since the Middle Ages. In the late 13th century, surrounding residential buildings were demolished to build the new cathedral and bell tower, and it was gradually expanded over the following centuries to its current size. The square brings together three iconic buildings: theCathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, and The Baptistery of San Giovanni. Together, they form the "Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore complex," showcasing the evolution of architectural art in Florence from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The dome designed by Brunelleschi stands over 90 m high and is a striking visual focal point on the square's skyline. Historic buildings such as the Archbishop's Palace, the Cathedral Museum, and the Bigallo Museum are also located around the square. Standing in the center of the square and looking around, the facades of buildings from different eras and styles complement each other, making it a key location for experiencing the urban landscape of Florence.Florence · 50.9km from Siena
Uffizi Gallery
• Exhibits the private collection of the Medici family, including Botticelli's “Birth of Venus” and “Springtime”, Leonardo da Vinci's “Annunciation”, Raphael's “Virgin and Child with Saint Anna” and other works • Collect more than 100,000 precious exhibits, covering almost the entire history of art, from ancient Greek sculptures to 18th-century Venetian oil paintings • Learn about Renaissance works and review Italian classics △The Uffizi Gallery displays the private collection of the Medici family. The Medici family was an Italian aristocratic family with a long history. They collected many important Italian Renaissance works of art and donated them to the Uffizi Gallery, which became part of the Uffizi Gallery. △This is a gathering place for Renaissance paintings, including works by famous painters such as Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. They are divided into more than 90 exhibition halls according to creation time and creative genre.Florence · 50.3km from Siena
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a medieval hill town. The ancient pilgrimage route to Rome once passed through the city, and caravans and pilgrims brought prosperity to its trade. Local families accumulated great wealth through saffron and wine, and they took their rivalry to the skies—nobles competed to build towers. At its peak, there were over 70 stone towers in the city. Today, more than 10 still stand among the red-tiled roofs. Such a cluster of towers is hard to find elsewhere in Tuscany, which is why people call this small town the "medieval Manhattan." The old town is completely enclosed by 13th-century walls and gates. Entering through Porta San Giovanni, the cobblestone Via San Giovanni is lined with stone mansions and small shops. As you walk gently uphill, it leads to two core squares: the triangular Piazza della Cisterna, centered around an ancient well, where towers and medieval houses create a quiet atmosphere; and the adjacent Piazza Duomo, where you can climb the Torre Grossa, which stands about 54m tall next to the town hall. Standing on the observation deck at the top, you can take in the entire cluster of towers, red-tiled roofs, and the rolling vineyards and olive groves outside the city. The cathedral by the square is easily overlooked, but the interior is filled with medieval biblical frescoes and is worth a closer look. The entire old town can be traversed on foot, making it suitable for a half-day excursion when traveling round-trip between Florence and Siena. If you want to take panoramic photos of the tower cluster, you can walk to the slopes outside the city walls and look back at the ancient city. The local white wine, Vernaccia, has been famous since the Middle Ages, and using saffron in cooking is also a long-standing local tradition.San Gimignano · 28.5km from Siena
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Piazza del Campo
Siena · 87m from downtownCathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Florence · 50.9km from SienaPiazza del Duomo
Florence · 50.9km from SienaSan Gimignano
San Gimignano · 28.5km from Siena
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni · 11.8km from Siena
Basilica di San Domenico
Siena · 378m from downtown
Val d'Orcia
Pienza · 36.7km from Siena
Palazzo Salimbeni
Siena · 282m from downtown
Pienza
Pienza · 38.8km from Siena
Piazza del Duomo
Italy · Milan
What travellers say about Siena
Reddineyeo11 September 2026
5.0
An absolute fairy-tale experience — great value booking with Trip!Booking our Siena Cathedral + OPA SI Pass through Trip was fantastic and offered a much better deal than purchasing tickets separately.A key tip: make sure to collect your physical ticket before heading in. Once you have it, you get fast-track access with little to no queue, so we walked straight through the entrance ,such a huge bonus!The pass also gives you access to the Museo dell’Opera and the Facciatone. My top recommendation is to head straight upstairs to the Facciatone queue first. You can expect about a 30-minute wait to go up, but it is 100% worth it. Climbing the narrow spiral staircase leads to the most magnificent panoramic views over Siena that truly took my breath away.Another handy tip: download Rick Steves’ free Siena audio walking tour podcast beforehand! It provides rich historical context while you wander around without paying for an expensive guide.Siena is stunning, and we will be coming back!
Siena Cathedral
fooler080919 October 2020
5.0
It is exactly the same as I imagined, a medieval old town with a sense of vicissitudes. The main color of the buildings is yellow, and the color of the cathedral looks very alternative. It is very convenient to come here from Florence.
Historic Center of Siena
M52***626 October 2019
5.0
Siena's Piazza del Campo is magnificent. Sitting on the slope, feeling the breeze and admiring the towers and medieval buildings in the distance, it feels like stepping back in time. The area is bustling with tourists and groups of European and American students, and the children playing and playing are a lively sight. I highly recommend stopping by for a while. There are also many interesting shops around the square, making it a delight to stroll around.
Piazza del Campo
sculptor27 March 2023
4.0
意大利中部的锡耶纳是一个很出名的中世纪城市，锡耶纳的市中心的市政厅起建于七百多年前，市政厅最耀眼的结构是一座102米高的钟楼塔，建于1348年，是当时意大利最高的钟楼。
Palazzo Pubblico
Anonymous user22 September 2026
5.0
The queue was quite long, and you need to make sure you're in the correct line before you start queuing… Queues at tourist attractions in Europe often consist of several separate lines with unclear signage. I didn't choose to climb the bell tower or the dome, but the museum included in the ticket is worth a good look; personally, I felt the environment was quite nice.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Blessed by God28 September 2022
5.0
such a lovely place, the duomo or cathedral is very big that I cannot take a picture of the whole cathedral. Even if I have seen it several times I always love to visit and see it again and again.
Piazza del Duomo
M49***836 October 2026
5.0
The explanation was incredibly detailed and insightful; it truly lives up to its reputation as a World Heritage Site. Thank you to the Medici family for their wise decision to leave us such priceless treasures. Exploring the world on foot, I successfully checked off this charming and artistically rich ancient city. I love it! 😻
Uffizi Gallery
小思文4 May 2020
4.0
The ancient city is Siena’s oldest and most precious treasure. I like to visit and play here. The entire old city has many historical traces and is also a relatively large historical building complex. The ancient area is very attractive to tourists and the scene is very wide.
San Gimignano
