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What to see in Siena in one day? To answer this question, I can already tell you that you will have to walk fast! In fact, although it is populated by only 55,000 people, Siena is a true medieval gem! This Tuscan city is also beloved for three major events: the Palio di Siena, the Eroica, and the Strade Bianche. I will describe these major events in the useful information section!
What to see in Siena: Piazza del Campo and Torre del Mangia
The center of Siena is definitely Piazza del Campo, famous for the Palio di Siena and the arrival of the Strade Bianche. This resounding square, the real center of Siena, has taken on its current appearance since the 13th century. First of all, the square is distinctive in that it is not flat. In fact, from the Fonte Gaia (by Jacopo della Quercia) one descends to the entrance of the Palazzo Pubblico. A gateway determines the entrance to a patio from where it is possible to admire the Torre del Mangia from below and, nearby, enter the Museo Civico.
You can go up the Torre del Mangia but, unfortunately, you cannot book in advance. You have to buy the ticket for the same day, directly at the box office on the patio. The Torre del Mangia gets its name from two legends: the bell ringer ate all the money he earned, and the tower ate the city’s money because of the constant repairs!
Map of what to see in Siena
Here I immediately leave you a map with a list of what to see in Siena: you can also find my favorite spot to appreciate the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia in all their beauty. In addition, you can find an official ticket dealer for the Duomo: at the point indicated on the map, the lines are generally much shorter than at the Duomo ticket office.
Finally, you will find a couple of scenic spots in the map. I absolutely recommend you visit them!
What to see in Siena: the Duomo
The Cathedral of Siena, built in the 13th century, is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful churches in Italy. The style is Romanesque-Gothic: the Gothic style is especially admired in the facade, which houses fourteen Gothic statues by Pisano. The facade is embellished by the bell tower, completed in 1313: 78 meters high, it was later surpassed by ten meters in height by the Mangia Tower, which was completed in 1349.
The interior of Siena Cathedral is simply majestic. The floor (which is uncovered in its entirety only at certain times of the year), the stained glass windows, and the Piccolomini library are absolutely unmissable. Admission to Siena Cathedral alone costs ten euros. As you continue reading, you will find all the information about buying: I am already telling you that, when buying, error is just around the corner.
Here I anticipate that you can admire the interior of Siena Cathedral from the so-called Gate of Heaven. A sometimes cramped and vertiginous path allows you to admire the interior from an advantageously high position-it’s spectacular, I highly recommend it!
What to see in Siena: the Duomo Complex
Buying admission inside Siena Cathedral could also buy you a ticket to visit the Cathedral Museum, the crypt, and the Baptistery. The Duomo Museum houses, among other things, the Pisano statues, the stained glass window and altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna, and the Treasure Room. The location of the Duomo Museum coincides with the Facciatone: in fact, in the 14th century the Sienese would have liked to enlarge the Duomo, building a new facade, but the defeat with Florence determined the end of the construction. From the Facciatone (reached by a decidedly cramped and vertiginous staircase) it is possible to admire a sublime panoramic view of Siena.
Also with the OpaSienaPass ticket (not to be confused with intero, which entitles you to visit only the Duomo) you can also appreciate the Duomo crypt (recently discovered) and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, which houses a baptismal font sculpted by Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia, among others.
Buying the Cathedral Ticket
Before I go on with the description of what to see in Siena, I’ll describe more about how to buy a visit to the Cathedral and its complex. The ticket can be purchased on this site. You will find, initially, three options: Heaven’s Gate, covered floor or uncovered floor. Buying the ticket at the Gate of Heaven automatically gives you entry to the entire complex: you will have to choose the time of entry to the Gate of Heaven and stick to it. If you choose covered or uncovered floor, on the other hand, you will be able to choose whether to buy the full ticket (which allows entry ONLY to the Cathedral) or OpaSiPass, which gives you permission to visit the entire complex except the Gate of Heaven.
The whole thing is quite cerebral, but it allows you to skip a queue that could be decidedly long. To visit the inside of the Cathedral calculate at least half an hour, the Gate of Heaven can be visited in exactly half an hour, and for the Museum, Crypt and Baptistery calculate at least an hour and a half.
All in all, if you are not interested in the Heaven’s Gate, you could book directly on GetyourGuide: here you will find the option of the complex, while here you find only those of the Cathedral.
What to do in Siena: walking the streets of the center
The center of Siena has some really beautiful streets. The main streets of Siena (the shopping streets) are Via Banchi di Sopra and Via di Cittร , with the beautiful Loggia della Mercanzia, Piazza Salimbeni and Piazza Tolomeo (here there is also the she-wolf, which is the symbol of Siena: Senio and Ascanio, sons of Remus, according to legend fled to Siena with the she-wolf).
Via di Cittร is also graced by the splendid Palazzo Chigi, which often hosts musical events.
Walking the streets of Siena is a beautiful experience. It absolutely deserves a mention Via di Santa Caterina, which has become very famous because of the Strade Bianche cycling event: the gradient is close to 20 percent and I guarantee it is very hard (it is in the last kilometer of the Strade Bianche, which is also a amateur granfondo as described in this post).
What to see in Siena: other noteworthy churches
The Duomo is not the only church in Siena worth a visit. The Basilica of San Domenico, located a stone’s throw away from the stadium, is much loved by locals: its faรงade, with its austere style, has become a postcard of the city of Siena.
The Basilica of St. Francis, on the other hand, has become famous for a miracle concerning a hundred wafers, stolen in 1730: three days after the theft they were returned and in 2014 they were considered still miraculously intact. Besides the Catholic miracle, the Basilica is magnificent: the style is neo-Gothic and definitely worth a visit!
Near St. Francis is the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano: the Madonna in Provenzano is still the object of many Catholic prayers.
What to see in Siena: the Medici fortress
The Medici fortress is a historic symbol of Siena. It was, in fact, built by the Medici family in the 16th century for the purpose of controlling the city, by then defeated by Florentine forces.
To this day, the Medici fortress is a place for meetings, walks and sporting events. The park inside the fortress, in fact, is often and frequently used for jogging. The fortress, moreover, is the starting place of the Granfondo Strade Bianche.
The Palio of Siena
The Palio of Siena deserves its own paragraph. This competition has medieval origins. The Palio as we currently know it, however, was born in 1656. Siena is divided into 17 contrade: ten of these participate in each Palio. This means that in the following Palio the seven excluded contrade will participate, plus three contrade drawn from the remaining ten.
Generally, the competition starts at 7:15 pm. The move, that is, the starting procedure, is sometimes very long, as the jockeys are often enemies with each other and the goal, many times, is to make the enemy contrada lose. Before the race (three laps of the Piazza del Campo, about 80 seconds into the race) there is a parade of flags and music, which starts at least a couple of hours beforehand. I attended the Palio on July 2, 2004: it was an unforgettable experience. However, it is not easy to attend: it is hot, the crowd is large, and once you enter the square it is virtually impossible to leave for the next four to five hours.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT TO SEE IN SIENA YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN SIENA
- When to visit Siena? The Tuscan city is at its best in spring and fall. I personally recommend visiting Siena during the Strade Bianche and the Eroica, which passes through Siena. The city becomes very much alive! Siena, in fact, suffered a period of crisis in 2008 after the economic bubble burst. Siena, in fact, is also famous for being home to one of the oldest banks in the world.
- Where to drink in Siena? I recommend two places in particular. Maudit Pub has good beers while San Paolo Pub has magnificent views of the Piazza del Campo.
- Where to eat in Siena? I recommend Cice’s, Osteria dei Rossi, Papei. I also mention Bocco’s sandwiches and Nannini’s pastry shop.
- In how many days do you visit Siena? One is the bare minimum! In Siena you can find accommodation quite easily: there is no shortage of Airbnb and hotel options. For the Palio di Siena, however, you need to move well in advance.
- How to reach Siena? Siena train station is two kilometers away from Piazza del Campo. I highly recommend the bus, which stops within walking distance of Piazza Salimbeni. The timing of a bus trip from Siena to Florence is similar to that of the train.
- This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Siena.
