As summer continues, a trip to Italy’s cities rich in history and warm in weather is a tempting prospect to most Brits looking to combine some sun and culture.
Milan, Rome and Venice may be top of the imaginary list in your mind, but it is time to divert your attention to the smaller, but more beautiful, city of Siena.
Recently rated as the best Italian city to visit by The Telegraph, Siena is home to less than 100,000 locals and provides a great alternative to a jam-packed city with its slower pace of life and more spacious surroundings. To top it all off, the city is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A medieval city at heart, Siena is known for its exquite piazza and its maze-esque web of streets. Big enough to entertain you for a week, but small enough to make you feel at home, it is the perfect size for a short city break.
Located in the jaw-droppingly gorgeous region of Tuscany, famous for its rolling vineyards, Siena has long been ignored by history lovers because it did not prosper in the Roman era due to not being located near any major roads. Despite this, there is a mass of stunning architecture such as the Torre del Mangia for tourists to visit.
Siena National Gallery is another highlight for art and culture lovers, with the site located in a building dating back to the 15th century, where available work includes a series of cartoons by Beccafumi and the “Raising of Lazarus” and “Madonna Enthroned”.
Like the rest of Tuscany, hot air balloon rides are a popular and available tourist attraction. Experiencing a Tuscan cooking class or a wine tasting tour is another highlight for those wanting to expand their alcohol palettes.
If you’re in town during the season, make sure to pay a visit to the Palio di Siena, a twice-yearly horse racing event packed full of flags, historic procession, contrada and open-air dinners. And, of course, the actual horse racing too. The event symbolises the deeply rooted traditions of Siena and functions as a superb way to immerse yourself in the local culture.
One visitor from Kentucky, USA, wrote on TripAdvisor: “In the heart of Siena. this is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most beautiful squares in the world.”
A second added: “Hard to think of a square more beautiful and full of charm. If your legs allow, it is definitely advisable to climb the tower to enjoy the view from above.”
A third chimed in: “Well, what a place to be. Worth visiting a different times of the day. Enjoy the views by having a coffee & watching people stroll past. There’s a few shop worth having a look in. Wine, coffee, etc. Also found a bar overlooking the whole piazza. A small balcony for 6 only. & they do Guinness. We sat there for about 1hr. Just chilling.”