A snapshot of some of the pageantry and processions that precede the Palio History Siena was an Etruscan city in ancient times, but the era that is most evident in its architecture and remains a constant presence in the city's character is the Middle Ages. Siena was a proud, wealthy, and warlike independent city-state during the Middle Ages and held off its rival Florence in several battles before finally going down to defeat. Medieval Sienese art (painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.) is unique and of great historical importance. Some of the most famous of the artists who lived and worked in Siena are the painters Duccio, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti and the sculptor Jacopo della Quercia.
Sienese people are fiercely proud of their city and their neighborhood ( contrada). Each contrada has its own flag, emblem, contrada parish church and contrada house, which functions as a kind of neighborhood social club. The Palio, described below, is all about neighborhood pride and rivalry, and also constitutes the unbroken continuation of a Medieval tradition associated with religion, pageantry, trash-talking, bragging, and occasional violence. It is taken very seriously and is in no way a put-on for tourists; in fact, you are likely to feel less welcomed during the Palio than at any other time, and there isn't the slightest doubt that Siena would run the Palio with great enthusiasm regardless of whether any visitors ever showed up. That said, this is a city which depends and flourishes on tourism. Siena was a very poor little city for a few hundred years after its defeat, which is the main reason why its lovely Medieval buildings were never torn down and replaced with modern structures.
In the 19th century tourists started coming. Nowadays, it is a requirement that new buildings within the city walls be built to maintain the city's character and beauty, with the result that the streets are lined with many neo-Gothic buildings that blend in with the genuinely Gothic ones. Siena today As a walled hill city, Siena's centro storico is extremely picturesque, and from high towers, you can see the beautiful countryside that still largely surrounds the city. With a few notable exceptions (including the pretty yellow color of the sunflowers that are cultivated for oil for export), the Sienese countryside looks almost the same as it did in Medieval paintings. The Sienese countryside is part of the region, and therefore, it is easy to find good local wines in Sienese shops and to accompany your meals in ristoranti and trattorie. Sienese cuisine is delicious, and though some eateries are definitely better than others, it is difficult to find truly bad food in this city. In addition to being known internationally as a Medieval city that's a great draw for tourists, Siena is known nationally as a university town, and there are also places for foreign visitors to stay for a few weeks and study Italian or other subjects.
Siena is a walled city, so one must enter one of the city gates — in this case, the Porta Camollia — for access By plane Siena's 43.256389 11.255 Ampugnano Airport ( SAY ) was 9 km from the city. It was completely shutdown in 2014 and there are only proposals for a replacement, as of 2017. Most travellers arriving by plane will land at 43.89 ( FLR ) near or 43.6838 ( PSA ) near. Buses of the Sena line connect Siena with the 44.535467 ( BLQ ) (twice daily, 2½ hours) near, a favorite with the discount carriers. There is also a bus link to Pisa International Airport.
By car From the north, take the Chiantigiana from (SS 222 – 72 km) that elegantly crosses the hills of or the highway (SS 2 superstrada Siena/Firenze - 68 km). From the south, Siena can be reached by taking the Autostrada from (A1 Roma-Firenze, exit Valdichiana), turning right on state highway #326 (Bettolle-Siena - 240 km). Relatively cheap parking can be found near Fortezza Medicea, northwest of the city stadium - and around it. By train From the north, trains go about hourly directly from to Siena, and otherwise it is possible to take any train that stops in and find train connections from Empoli to Siena every 30–60 minutes. It costs €7.40 single (Feb 2012). From the south, direct connections to Siena depart from or from.
Siena's 43.331672 Train Station is located approximately 2 km from the city's historical centre — a five-minute bus ride — and buses leave regularly from Piazza del Sale. Buses #3, 8, 10, 17 and 77 leave from the station to Piazza del Sale and bus #17 departs from Piazza del Sale for the train station. If you don't mind walking uphill, you can also walk to the centre in about 20–30 minutes: Exit the train station, turn left, walk past the bus park and then uphill, bearing right at the traffic circle, staying on the road called Viale Giuseppe Manzini. Go through the city gates, and follow the road as it bends sharply to the right.
The road becomes Via Garibaldi, which will take you into the city. By bus By far the easiest way to get to Siena from Florence (though the train journey is much more picturesque). Take the SITA bus (located in a small underground bus depot across the street, to the west of Santa Maria Novella train station).
After 1hr 20 min it will eventually drop you off at Piazza Garibaldi which is located well within the walls of the city, allowing for an easy walk to any of the city's attractions. For the return journey, buses depart from Piazza Gramsci. The cost was €7.10 in 2012. Connections are also available from Rome (3 hours) and various other cities.
Get around. Via dei Servi, with Santa Maria dei Servi in the distance. 43.32 Basilica of San Francesco, Piazza San-Francesco 6, ☎. This Romanesque church was turned into a Gothic one and contains some notable Gothic art, including a moving fresco of the Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti and one of the Martyrdom of Five Franciscan Brothers by his brother, Ambrogio. ( updated May 2016). 43.319742, Piazza San Domenico, 1, ☎, e-mail:. From March to October: 07:00-18:30, from November to February: 09:00-18:00.
This large, austere Gothic basilica (usually simply called San Domenico) is not only dedicated to St. Catherine of Siena, along with St. Dominic, but was frequented by her and contains a period portrait of her by Andrea Vanni and relics including her head. It also features several other works by Sienese Gothic painters and impressively high vaulted ceilings. It is quite close to the long-distance bus stop, so if you are going to or from Siena by bus and have the time even to briefly enter this house of prayer, do. ( updated May 2016).
43.320201 ( Santuario di Santa Caterina). In this house lived the 14th-century mystic who is one of the principal patron saints of Italy. If you are a devotee, it is natural to combine a visit here with a visit to San Domenico, but even if you are not a devotee, if you have the time, you are likely to find your visit interesting. ( updated May 2016).
43.314489 Sant'Agostino, Piazza Sant'Agostino. Built as a Gothic church, it was damaged by fire in 1747 and was renovated with some Baroque additions and further added to in the 19th century. However, the main draws for the lover of paintings are from well before the fire and include an Enthroned Madonna with Child and Saints by the 14th-century Ambrogio Lorenzetti and a Crucifixion by the 15th-16th-century Perugino. ( updated May 2016). 43.315153 Santa Maria dei Servi, Piazza Manzoni ( About 650 m uphill from the Piazza del Campo, in the direction of the Porta Romana). This Romanesque church is much smaller than the huge edifices of the Duomo and San Domenico, but it contains some notable art including a Coronation of the Virgin and Saints by Bernardino Fungai, a Massacre of the Innocents attributed to Pietro Lorenzetti and collaborators and an Adoration of the Shepherds by Taddeo Di Bartolo. ( updated May 2016) Fountains.
43.319138 Fontebranda, Via di Fontebranda ( 150 m downhill from the Santuario di Santa Caterina). This Medieval fountain is the oldest in Siena, built in its current form in 1246 and remaining in place as itself, not a replica. Not surprisingly, it is somewhat worn and overgrown in places, but still impressive and beautiful, and would be a top sight in most other cities.
( updated May 2016) Museums. 43.318392, Piazza del Duomo 1 ( Right across the piazza from the Duomo). M W 10:30-16:30; Th-Su 10:30-18:30. This Medieval hospital, now a museum, is chock-full of Medieval art including altarpieces by Bartolommeo Bulgarini and frescoes by the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini. Also part of the complex (no additional admission charge) is the, which exhibits some important archeological finds from the area, plus items from public and private collections of antiquities that are mostly from Siena and Chiusi. €9; reduced €8.
( updated May 2016) Do. Enoteca. Ristorante Sansedoni in Birreria ( La Birreria), Piazza Il Campo, 58. Best priced drinks and food in Il Campo. Sit outside at a table in the central Piazza. ( updated Nov 2016)., Via Dei Termini N° 9.
Great live music, but a bit on the seedy side. The Walkabout Pub, Via Pantaneto 90.
A pitching chart is a very valuable tool for a pitcher and a coach. For the pitcher it shows you your weaknesses and strengths. It tells you what pitches are working on what batters and what pitches are not working on what batters. It also tells you how many pitches you are throwing per inning which is. Charting Pitchers. The pitching chart contains more detail than the hitter chart, but still allows for easy input. There is one page for each hitter that the pitcher faces. Location, pitch type and result can all be tracked on the chart. This chart can be used in a few ways. It can be kept as a cumulative chart for each hitter the pitcher. Softball pitching chart template. A pitcher comes to know his weakness and strength and he can work harder to make his game better with the help of pitching charts. It depicts the pitches that are working and not working for the pitcher. Moreover, the number of pitches that are being thrown in an inning can also be known through the Gantt Chart Templates.
Cool pub with Australian ambiance doing cool music. Also, in the fortress is the excellent Enoteca Italiana, a wine bar and shop located in the fortress' vaults. The Enoteca Italiana stocks an extensive selection of wines produced all through Italy.
Additionally, since Siena is in the Chianti country, you can buy bottles of good Chianti wines at any market that sells food and wine. Fonte Gaia in Piazza del Campo Camping. 43.336854, Strada di Scacciapensieri 47 ( The campsite can be reached by taking bus 8 from the city centre and asking to be let off at camping Colleverde (the stop itself is actually quite near the entrance to the site, there's a good and cheap pasticceria/bar nearby as well). You can walk but it's quite strenuous to do so.), ☎, fax: +39 0577 334 005, e-mail:. About 3 km east from the city centre and up the hill from the rail station.
It is quite a large campsite and has all the facilities and a swimming pool. As of 2012, you can rent cabins with toilet/shower for 2/3/4/5 persons (€65/80/105/115 per night, maybe cheaper when booked through traveling sites). Alternatively, you could camp at, Strada della Montagnola 39, Sovicille, ☎, e-mail:. Beyond the small village of Sovicille about 12 km from Siena with regular bus connections. It's a decent site with basic facilities but quite friendly and helpful staff. Budget.
43.356115, Tenuta di Monaciano, Ponte a Bozzone, ☎. Tuscany self catering accommodations in the Chianti hills 7 km from Siena with swimming pool, ping-pong and a romantic park. Monaciano has many farmhouses that may comfortably accommodate large families or large groups of friends. Santuario S.
Caterina ( Alma Domus), Via Camporegio, 37, ☎, fax: +39 0577 47601. Run by a nunnery, this modest hotel near the Basilica di S. Domenico provides sanctuary to weary travellers. Curfew is 23:00., Viale Vittorio Veneto, 11, ☎, e-mail:. 3-star hotel that offers free shuttle service for the Spa San Giovanni Rapolano Terme. Mid-range. Palazzo Sansedoni.
Beautiful 4-star hotel and restaurant immersed in vineyards and olive groves of the Tuscan countryside 12 km from Siena. Also does weddings and meetings. Il Boschetto - 4 km from Siena, 9-room villa with pool, private garden, large living room with open fireplace, satellite-TV and video, 5 large bedrooms. A bed and breakfast-style hotel, renovated in 2005, in the historical center of Siena, with amazing view onto the old town. 43.298952, Str. Dei Tufi, 64, ☎, e-mail:.
Splendid aristocratic residence originating from the early 1600s, in the countryside, ten minutes' drive from the historical centre of Siena. It incorporates eight spacious apartments, which may host up to seven persons. It is complemented by the Dependence, a holiday home to the same standard. Each of the eight spacious apartments is a synthesis of comfort, elegant style, traditional taste and modern functionality. Go next There are many bus and train connections from Siena to other interesting places in Tuscany.
Consider the following for day trips: the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore in, and the towns of, and. Is another obvious place to visit. And of course, there is the country that virtually surrounds Siena and is known worldwide for its wine. Further afield, there are bus and train connections to and various locations in. In addition, there are hot springs in Tuscany, which are popular with Italians and indeed have been enjoyed for thousands of years: Spas.
I lived in Florence, Italy, for five years in my early twenties. When I look back at that time, one of the things I remember with the most fondness is the food. I grew up in an Italian-American family, so I thought I knew traditional Italian food well. Tradtional Italian bakery. Photo by Cristian/Flickr But, when I got there I realized that there was so much I didn’t know—including some foods that were completely foreign to me, like tripe ( trippa) and wild boar ( cinghiale), two Florentine favorites I can’t say I ever came to enjoy. I also learned that Italian cuisine is as particular to each region and town as the dialects their residents speak. Still, there are certain favorites that you can find in any area you visit.
If you’re traveling to Italy on vacation, here are the foods and dishes you won’t want to pass up. Risotto with truffles and saffron The other risotto dish you have to try is made with truffles and saffron. This heady side dish has a very strong taste.
Luckily you don’t need many truffles to make rice taste delicious (even a few slices can be enough), so you can get the full experience without spending a lot on this dish. Otherwise truffles can be very expensive. Homemade pasta with authentic ragu sauce The capital of homemade pasta is largely considered Bologna, and the town is also known for its delicious ragu sauce, made with ground meat, tomatoes, and vegetables. But, I’ve never had badly made pasta or ragu anywhere in Italy. Wherever you go, I recommend that you order fresh ravioli or pappardelle, which is like a very wide version of linguine.
If you’re a vegetarian, try it with an “al pomodoro” sauce, which is a basic, meatless tomato sauce. Risotto with porcini mushrooms I used to go mushroom hunting on a regular basis when I lived in Tuscany, and finding porcini mushrooms isn’t easy. They only grow in certain types of woods, and only after a certain amount of rainfall is followed by very specific temperatures.
Basically they’re mushroom primadonnas. Porcini have a strong, distinct flavor that you’ll never forget—and even dried porcini can’t convey the full experience that comes with eating them fresh. Combine them with authentic risotto, a slow-cooked rice dish, and you’ve got yourself a vacation memory you won’t forget. Freshly baked focaccia I used to head to the pasticceria, or pastry shop, with Florentine friends before the crack of dawn, to get focaccia bread right as it came out of the oven.
We weren’t alone—the piazzas were full of young people doing the same thing. This sponge-like bread is covered in a light layer of olive oil and salt, which may not sound appealing but believe me, it’s worth waiting in line for.
Bruschetta Italians make this delicious dish by toasting their bread, rubbing garlic on it while it’s hot, and topping it with fresh tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. It’s a great appetizer before any meal, at any time of the day or evening. My kids love it! Wood oven pizza What I love about northern Italian pizza is that it has a very thin crust, and is often topped with all kinds of delicious ingredients. As you get farther south, the crust gets thicker. Italians love pizzas with things like tuna, olives, arugula, and more.
Be daring and try one that you’d never find back home. Traditional unsalted Tuscan bread Florentines eat this pretty much every day to sop up pasta sauce, but to Americans it tastes oddly flavorless. Still, I think it’s a good idea to buy at least one loaf so you can eat the way the natives do.
The bread originated in ancient times when poverty was more widespread and salt commanded a premium price. Eating it now is like bonding with the past—something love to do. The most dangerous Italian food: Gelato Italian ice cream, or gelato, is different from the ice cream you buy anywhere else. It’s dense, concentrated, and comes in flavors you wouldn’t expect. On my most recent trip to Rome I tried basil ice cream, which was surprisingly refreshing. Some of my favorite flavors include pistacchio (pistachio) and riso (rice).
Try eating it just once a day. It’s that hard to resist.
Tiramisu If you like coffee you’ll love authentic Italian tiramisu. This sponge cake is soaked in it, and includes mascarpone cheese and usually a light dusting of chocolate powder. It’s a great way to end a good meal. What’s your favorite traditional Italian food? I’d love to know.