SIENA

IN THREE
HOURS
Three hours, a morning or an evening
are not long enough to discover the city.
Siena deserves more time, but without a
doubt a first “taste” will leave you with
the desire to return. We suggest a brief
itinerary which will allow you to see the
“essential” sights.
The departure point is Piazza del Campo, the heart
of the city. It is here that every 2nd July and 16th August
that the Palio takes place: a horse race preceded by
a splendid historic procession. At the end of the 13th
Century, the Nove Signori who governed the city ordered
the building of the Palazzo Pubblico which according to
records was inaugurated in 1310. All the buildings that
looked out onto the square had to follow a set of rules
(1297) which forbade the construction of balconies
and called for mullioned windows which were divided
vertically in two or three parts. These regulations made
up one of the world’s first city planning documents. The
nine segments of the square reflect the nine governors
and give it a particular shell shape.
Stop in front of the Fonte Gaia which brought
water to the centre of the city in 1346, after almost
ten years of digging in order to create a “bottino”, a
long underground barrel vaulted aqueduct. At the
beginning of the 15th Century, the 14th Century fountain
was replaced with that of Jacopo della Quercia, whose
original marble can be found in the Santa Maria della
Scala Museum Complex. The current day Fonte Gaia
is a copy made by Tito Sarrocchi (1869).
If despite the short amount of time available you want to
visit a museum, we would suggest the Civic Museum
in Palazzo Pubblico, the imposing palace with its
elegant tower, Torre del Mangia.
The palace, a symbol of the independence and wealth
of Siena, is one of the most important examples of civil
Gothic architecture in the world and a treasure chest
of works of art. A number of the most beautiful rooms
belong to the Civic Museum and are open to the public:
the Sala del Mappamondo (Room of the world map)
with the Conquista del castello di Giuncarico (Conquest
of the Giuncarico Castle), the last work of Duccio di
Buoninsegna (1315-1320), the Maestà (1315-1321)
and the Guidoriccio (1328-1329) by Simone Martini.
There is the internal chapel, the Sala del Concistoro
(Room of the Consistory) and the Sala della Pace
(Room of Peace) with its depictions of Buono e Cattivo
Governo (Good and Bad Government) frescoed by
Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1338-1339) where it is possible
to see the medieval city with its workshops and artisans.
In the centre, there is the Allegoria del Buon Governo
(Allegory of Good Government), a woman dressed in
white stretched out on a suit of armour, which is the
universal emblem for peace chosen by Unesco.
If you have the energy you may like to visit the Torre
del Mangia (1325-1349): a climb of over 400
steps – the tower is 87 metres high – rewards you
with a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding
countryside.
Leave Piazza del Campo from the Costarella dei
Barbieri exit which leads into via di Città, one of the
most important streets of the city centre, lined with
beautiful buildings, shops and workshops. If you have
time, look into the courtyard of the Palazzo Chigi
Saracini, rich with history and home to the Accademia
Musicale Chigiana, one of the most prestigious music
schools in the world where musicians such as Abbado,
Baremboim, Zubin Metha, Accardo, studied and then
taught. The picturesque courtyard is a great place to
escape the summer heat, especially when there are
lessons going on to grant you with a wonderful musical
background. The building itself also deserves a visit.
At the end of via di Città, turn right into via del Capitano
and carry on until you reach Piazza del Duomo.
A whole week isn’t enough time to visit everything
concentrated in this space but we will limit ourselves
to a “whistle-stop tour”. Giovanni Pisano began work
on the facade of the Duomo at the end of the 13th
Century and this was recently restored to its splendour.
To the right, in the piazza Jacopo della Quercia there
are the remains of the Duomo Nuovo which the
inhabitants of Siena tried to build before the 1348
plague but the soil gave way and they were forced
to abandon the project. The “facciatone” (large
facade) of the Duomo Nuovo is accessible through
the Opera Metropolitana museum climbing the 130
steps and offers a beautiful view of the city. The floor
of the Duomo (entirely uncovered and visible from
mid August until mid October) is a “picture Bible” with
56 inlaid marble squares produced between 1369
and 1547, based upon designs by great artists such
as Matteo di Giovanni and Domenico Beccafumi.
Inside the Duomo there are numerous masterpieces:
the Piccolomini Library completely frescoed by
Pinturicchio, the pulpit of Nicola and Giovanni Pisano
and works by some of the greatest artists of the time
such as Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini.
In front of the Duomo we find the ancient Ospedale
di Santa Maria della Scala, one of the oldest
hospitals in Europe which sprung up along the Via
Francigena to give assistance to pilgrims making
their way to Rome. The canons of the Duomo were
responsible for its creation even if legend tells the
story of a shoemaker called Sorore who died in
898 A.D. The series of paintings in the Sala del
Pellegrinaio (Room of the Pilgrimage) tells the story
of the hospital which gave medical care, welcomed
pilgrims and took in and educated abandoned
children known as “gettatelli” (throw aways). Today,
Santa Maria is a museum complex which houses the
Library and Photo Gallery of Giuliano Briganti, the
Childrens’ Art Musuem, in addition to both temporary
and permanent exhibitions. The basement rooms are
home to the Museum of Archeology in a “labyrinth”
of rooms and tunnels dug out of the volcanic stone.
To return to Piazza del Campo, pass under the
archway and head down the steps which lead
to piazza San Giovanni and the Baptistery. You
will pass by the Crypt, which was only recently
discovered and opened to the public and in front of
the Baptistery you can take in the sheer majesty of
the cathedral complex. From via dei Pellegrini you will
find yourselves back in Costarella dei Barbieri again.
Don’t leave Siena without having tried some cured
meats or pecorino cheese, drunk a glass of wine, tasted
a slice of panforte or a ricciarello biscuit: this food and
wine indulgence will boost your desire to return.

HERE ARE A FEW, JUST A FEW THINGS THAT

YOU MISSED IN SUCH A SHORT VISIT
••
•• Sanctuary of Santa Caterina
•• The city section of the Via Francigena, from
Porta Camollia to Porta Romana
•• The Orto de’ Pecci
•• The Synagogue and the old ghetto of Siena
•• Squares, alley ways, view points and unexpected
perspectives that only those with time to wander
around the streets of Siena will find
•• The National Picture Gallery
•• A stroll or a run among the peaceful bastions
of the Medici Fortess with a breathtaking view
of the city
•• The Botanic Gardens and the Science
Academy’s Natural History Museum
•• The vegetable gardens of the Tolomei family
•• The beauty of Siena’s public water fonts from
the most important and famous Fontebranda,
to the more hidden and surprising ones
•• The great Basilicas (Provenzano, San
Francesco, Santa Maria dei Servi, San
Domenico) and all the other wonderful
churches
•• Siena’s Loggias, true masterpice of different
periods
•• A guided tour through the city or a cookery
lesson;
•• Time to stop in a restaurant or trattoria to enjoy
local specialities;
•• A visit to an artisan’s workshop to admire
objects produced using ancient traditional
methods, giving you the opportunity to take a
“piece” of authentic Siena away with you;

We are confident that what you have and

haven’t seen will encourage you to come
back, maybe with friends, maybe for a
little while longer so you can discover
even more of Siena.
Come back soon...
 Photographs by Mauro Guerrini and Davide Landi
USEFUL INFORMATION
Medical Emergencies 118
Carabinieri (local police) 112
Polizia di Stato (State Police) 113
Fire Brigade 115
Police Headquarters +39 0577 201111
Taxi +39 0577 49222
Siena Parking +39 0577 228711

CITY MUSEUMS
Torre del Mangia +39 0577 292343
Museo Civico +39 0577 292232
Santa Maria della Scala
+39 0577 534571

INFORMATION
Tourist Information Office
Santa Maria della Scala
Piazza Duomo, 1
Tel. +39 0577 280551
siena@terresiena.it

You can download other routes from

the website www.enjoysiena.it

City Administration
Tourist Board
Piazza del Campo, 1
Tel. +39 0577 292128/178
turismo@comune.siena.it
www.comune.siena.it

Made in collaboration with

the income from the “imposta di
soggiorno” (daily tourist tax)