Things to do and see in Siena

Siena deserves plenty of days to measure its charm. However, it is not a very large city and two days can be enough to bring back beautiful memories.
Piazza del Campo is the highlight of the show, an incomparable shell-shaped square surrounded by its medieval palaces, including the Palazzo Pubblico and the tall and beautiful Torre del Mangia. The other major site of the city is around the cathedral and Piazza del Duomo. Beyond, the streets of the historic center are impressive, seemingly transported directly from the Middle Ages. It is a huge medieval centre, with its churches, palaces, fountains, squares and several museums.

See also at the end of page Tourist map of Siena

Piazza del Campo in Siena

Piazza del Campo view from the tour of the Mangia

The most beautiful place in Siena! Considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world, the Piazza del Campo is shaped like a shell with 9 sectors symbolizing the members of the government in the fourteenth century when it was built.

It is surrounded by medieval palaces, with the Palazzo Pubblico in majesty, dominated by the Torre del Mangia which can be climbed to enjoy a unique view of the square and the city, the most beautiful fountain of Siena the Fonte Gaia of the fifteenth century, the Piazza Chapel or the Sansedoni Palace.
You can have a drink or dinner on one of the terraces around, or just sit on the large pavement, quite comfortable with its slight slope, and enjoy the place.
This is where the Palio of Siena takes place, twice a year, horse races that see the neighborhoods of Siena face off.
→ See also the page on Piazza del Campo

Palazzo Pubblico and Civic Museum

Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia

The superb medieval palace of the Palazzo Pubblico, built in the 13th-14th centuries on Piazza del Campo was the heart of political power in Siena with its nine rulers from the 14th century.
It houses in its historic rooms the Civic Museum of Siena, whose walls bear impressive frescoes, especially the unique work by d’Ambrogio Lorenzetti with the Allegory of good and bad government made in 1337.
→ See also the page on the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena and the Museo Civico of Siena

Torre del Mangia tower in Siena

Unless you suffer from vertigo, do not hesitate to climb the 88 meters of the Torre del Mangia, a tower whose origin dates back to the fourteenth century (enlarged and partly rebuilt later), by its 400 steps, to enjoy a unique view of Siena and the Piazza del Campo that reveals its shell shape.
→ See also the page about Torre del Mangia tower

Piazza del Duomo and Cathedral

Cathedral Facade

The Piazza Duomo is the second most beautiful square in Siena, thanks to the most important religious building of Siena: the Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta, also called Duomo di Siena. It is certainly one of the greatest examples of Romanesque-Gothic architecture in Italy. Its exterior is characterized by its black and white bichromy and many rich carved ornaments, motifs, figures of saints, arrows, etc.
The interior is no less impressive with its three high naves, the Piccolomini Library painted by Pinturicchio, statues of Michelangelo, the pulpit of Pisano, the superb pavement with its religious and other stories.
The bell tower of the Duomo reaches 77 meters. Outside a large unfinished nave reveals that the initial project was to make the church the largest in the Christian world!

The visit of the cathedral is associated with that of the Museum Opera del Duomo and the Siena Baptistery.
→ See also the page about Siena Cathedral

Santa Maria della Scala Hospital-Museum

The Pellegrinaio

Located also in Piazza del Duomo, Santa Maria della Scala was the pilgrim hospital founded in the 9th century, an important institution in the Middle Ages, converted into a museum of great interest.
Its richness are as much at the architectural level with the rooms of the hospital such as the fabulous Room of the Pilgrims adorned with superb frescoes; the chapels; that for its numerous and varied artistic collections, including the Archaeological Museum.
→ See also the page on Santa Maria della Scala in Siena

Opera del Duomo Museum of Siena

The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, located in the large unfinished nave, gathers works from the cathedral and the diocese of Siena. There are many masterpieces, such as a Madonna and Child by Donatello, statues of saints or prophets for the façade by Giovanni Pisano, works by Lorenzetti, Sodom and above all two masterpieces by Duccio di Boninsegna.

→ See also the section on Opera del Duomo Museum in Siena

Baptistery

Baptistery Facade

Behind the Siena Cathedral, the important baptistery dates from 1325.
The superb interior, created in the 15th century, is decorated with frescoes by Benvenuto di Giovanni and The Miracles of Saint Anthony of Padua (15th century).
In the centre is the bronze and marble baptismal fountain, a fine example of the early Tuscan Renaissance, which was the work of several artists such as Jacopo della Quercia, Ghiberti, Donatello and di Turino.
→ See also the page on Baptistery of Siena

National Art Gallery

Virgin and Child, Beccafumi

The important Siena Art Gallery has a unique collection of paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries, especially those from Siena. Among the masterpieces are paintings by Simone Martini, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Giovanni di Paolo, Sassetta, di Buoninsegna, Domenico Beccafumi, Le Sodoma or Vanni.

On the upper floor is the Spannocchi-Piccolomini collection with Italian, Flemish and German works, including a Nativity by Lorenzo Lotto.
→ See also the page on National Art Gallery of Siena

Basilica of Saint Dominic

Basilica di San Domenico

Near the walls of Siena, this large Dominican Basilica is one of the most important buildings in the city, built in the 13th-14th centuries. It is tall and vast with a single-nave interior immense but very bare, apart from the important Chapel of Saint Catherine with its relics, the two masterpieces of Sodoma (the mystical evanescence and ecstasy of the saint), and the Chapel of Volte where Sainte-Catherine came to pray.
→ See also the page on Basilica di San Domenico in Siena

St. Catherine’s Shrine

Loggia

Near San Domenico, this house-sanctuary includes the 15th century family home where Sainte Catherine lived, her father working here as a dyer.
The complex has a nice Portico of the Communes, with the well of the fifteenth century, a loggia of the sixteenth, the church of the Crucifix with frescoes on the life of the saint, the Oratory of the Kitchen, etc
→ See also the page on House-sanctuary of Sainte Catherine of Siena

Fontebranda, fountains and Water Museum

Fontebranda

The 13th-century Fontebranda is the oldest and most charming fountain in Siena with its medieval vaults, while the 15th-century Fonte Gaia on Piazza del Campo is the most artistic.
They are fed by ancient underground aqueducts (called bottini) dug by the Sienese over tens of kilometers to water the city. Parts of the latter can be visited. The fountain of Fontebranda was used for drinking water, watering and washing with separate basins.
→ See also the page on Fountains of Siena

Biccherne Museum in Siena

The State Archives of Siena are housed in the exemplary Renaissance building of the Piccolomini Palace, which houses the Biccherne Museum in Siena (Museums of the tablets of the Biccherna), with a permanent exhibition of 105 tablets of the Biccherna, covers of wooden registries made between the middle of the thirteenth and the beginning of the eighteenth century. In the Middle Ages, the Biccherna was the city’s most important financial court. These tablets are true works of art, with various representations of the public and religious life of Siena.
→ Read also the paragraph on the Museo delle Biccherne in Siena

Palaces in Siena

→ See also the page dedicated to Palaces in Siena

Chigi-Saracini Palace

Chigi-Saracini Palace

The Chigi-Saracini Palace dates back to the 13th century, and was later enlarged.
It houses important works of art and is the seat of the prestigious Chigiana Music Academy.
Open to the public for events and guided tours. Alternatively, you can discover the beautiful courtyard.
→ See also the paragraph dedicated to Chigi-Saracini palace

Sansedoni Palace

It is one of the most beautiful palaces in Siena, dating from the fourteenth century, along a curve of Piazza del Campo.
The interior is rich in frescoes and elegant decorations, with a private chapel. Guided tours are available, by reservation and for groups of at least 15 people.
→ See also the paragraph dedicated to Palazzo Sansedoni in Siena

Salimbeni Palace

The Salimbeni Palace is the historic seat of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the oldest bank in the world. It can only be visited on the days of the two palios, the rest of the time an inner courtyard and some rooms.
→ See also the paragraph dedicated to Palazzo Salimberi of Siena

Palazzo delle Papesse

The Palazzo delle Papesse is located in via di Città, of papal origin, and today houses the Centro per l’Arte Contemporanea Senese. Built between 1460 and 1495, it is another “Piccolomini Palace”. It displays Renaissance architecture in the Florentine style.
→ See also Read the paragraph dedicated to Palazzo delle Papesse of Siena

Chigi Zondadari Palace

The beautiful 18th-century Chigi Zondadari Palace, typical of Roman architecture at that time, has large halls frescoed by renowned painters.
In 2022, the Casa Museo Palazzo Chigi Zondadari was opened to the public to discover the palace.
→ See also the paragraph dedicated to Palazzo Chigi Zondadari in Siena

Other churches in Siena

• Basilica of San Francesco of Siena: from the 13th to 17th centuries, with the façade of the 20th century, an immense building with an impressive bichrome interior
• San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi: beautiful gothic church of the 13th-16th century with a mix of different styles and many fine works
• Santa Maria di Provenzano: late 16th century collegiate church with beautiful works of art
• San Donato baroque church with its 20th century neo-medieval façade
• San Giuseppe: 16th-17th century with rich works from the same period
• San Pietro alla Magione : Old church at least in the 10th century, owned by the Templars, with a portal and a Romanesque bell tower
• Santa Maria in Portico a Fontegiusta: late XV Renaissance church, conserving frescoes
• Etc

Gates and walls

The walls of Siena, dating back to the Middle Ages and having been enlarged seven times, measures seven kilometres and has beautiful gates from various periods
→ See also the paragraph dedicated to walls and gates of Siena

Other places and squares in the historic centre

• Medicean Fortress: built in the 16th century by the Spaniards, then rebuilt shortly after by the Medici of Florence
• Lodge of the Pope: 15th-century loggia offered by Pope Pius II
• Loggia della Mercanzia: beautiful loggia of the historic centre built from the 15th century onwards
• Some others Siena’s squares and streets of the medieval centre of Siena

Basilica of the Observance

The Basilica of San Bernardino dell’Osservanza is a church located at the top of the Poggio della Capriola, a small height 3 kilometers outside the walls of Siena. Formerly the hermitage of the saint, it is inhabited by a small group of Franciscan monks.
The site is remarkable for the view with panoramic terrace.

Museum of Earth Sciences and Antarctic Museum

It is amazing to find such a museum dedicated to the Antarctic in Siena, which traces the history of exploration of the coldest continent on Earth through historical documents, including films, rock samples or objects from scientific expeditions.
Also discover more generally the Museum of Earth Sciences, located in the Department of Physical Sciences of the Earth and the Environment (Strada Laterina 8).

The Academy of the Fisiocritici hosts the Museum of Natural History (Piazzetta Silvio Gigli, 2)

Tourist map of Siena

Sources and links

• General information: Main sights in Siena on Wikipedia
• Tourist websites and blogs : Official Siena tourism website, Terre di Siena, Siena on visittuscany.com

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