Siena - the world heritage in Tuscany

Siena is Tuscany's second major art center after Florence: a Gothic old town on three hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, with the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the cathedral, and the famous Palio horse race. The city in the province of Siena has around 53.000 inhabitants and can easily be explored on foot in a day – though an overnight stay is even better.

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Sightseeing in Siena

Piazza del Campo and Palazzo Pubblico

At the end of the narrow streets, the Piazza del Campo opens up, considered by many to be the most beautiful square in Italy. It slopes down in a shell-like fashion towards the Gothic Palazzo Pubblico (town hall); its paving is divided into nine sections. Inside the town hall, the Museo Civico displays, among other things, Ambrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes depicting good and bad governance. At the highest point of the square stands the Fonte Gaia, the "Fountain of Joy"—the original by Jacopo della Quercia has been replaced by a copy. Our tip: Take your time to look around before heading to one of the (expensive) cafés—many locals simply sit on the pavement. The square is particularly atmospheric in the evening, after the day-trippers have departed.

Torre del Mangia

The 102-meter-high Town Hall tower was built between 1338 and 1348. Around 400 steps lead to the top, where you'll be rewarded with a view over the sea of ​​red rooftops stretching into the hills. There is no elevator, visits are limited to 30 minutes, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Since daily capacity is limited, it's advisable to book tickets in advance, for example, through GetYourGuide: Tickets for the Torre del Mangia . The tower remains closed in bad weather.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Porta del Cielo

The cathedral, with its black and white striped marble facade, is a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture. Inside, the pulpit by Nicola Pisano, the Piccolomini Library with frescoes by Pinturicchio, and especially the marble floor with its 56 panels are particularly impressive. It is usually covered and only fully visible at certain times – in 2026 from June 27 to July 31 and from August 18 to November 15. Admission during these times costs €10 (otherwise €5); the "Opa Si Pass" combination ticket also includes the crypt, baptistery, cathedral museum with its panoramic terrace (Facciatone), and library. Children up to 6 years old enter free, and children aged 7 to 11 pay €3 for the Opa Si Pass (as of 2026). The "Porta del Cielo" guided tour takes you through the cathedral's vaults and roof galleries (as of 2026: €20).

The enormous facade wall next to the cathedral is a reminder of the plan to expand the cathedral into the largest church in Christendom ("Duomo Nuovo") – the plague of 1348 halted the project. Tickets and guided tours can be found, for example, at GetYourGuide: Siena Cathedral – Tickets and Tours.

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Santa Maria della Scala and Museo dell'Opera

Directly opposite the cathedral is the former pilgrim hospice and hospital Santa Maria della Scala, first mentioned at the end of the 11 century. Today it is a museum complex with frescoed halls and chapels; the lower floors house, among other things, the Archaeological Museum with Etruscan finds. In the neighbouring Museo dell’Opera del Duomo you can see Duccio’s Maestà – the large Madonna panel that the painter created for the cathedral’s high altar at the beginning of the 14 century.

Also worth seeing are the Basilica di San Francesco and – a little further out on a hill – the Basilica dell'Osservanza.

More tips for the old town

• Monte dei Paschi: The bank, headquartered in the Palazzo Salimbeni, has existed since 1472 and is considered the oldest still existing bank in the world.
• University: The University of Siena was founded in 1240 and, with its students, shapes city life.
• Sweet specialties: Panforte (spiced fruit cake) and Ricciarelli (almond pastries) are available in many pasticcerie, for example at Nannini – the family of rock singer Gianna Nannini.
• Car-free center: Siena was one of the first cities in Europe to ban cars from its historic center as early as the 1960s – today the entire old town is a ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone).

The Palio of Siena

Twice a year, on 2 July and on 16 August, Piazza del Campo is covered with sand. Ten of the 17 contrade (districts) each send a horse with a rider into the race: three laps without a saddle, and the whole thing lasts barely 90 seconds. A horse without a rider can even win. Trial races and historical parades take place days beforehand. The square in the middle is free of charge but extremely crowded; grandstand seats are expensive and sell out long in advance. If you have no interest in the Palio, you are better off avoiding Siena on these days. More information is available on the official Tuscany tourism website.

Practical information for your visit

Weekly market in Siena (Wednesday)

The large weekly market takes place every Wednesday morning on Viale XXV Aprile around the Fortezza Medicea – offering food, clothing, household goods, and plants. If Wednesday falls on a public holiday, the market is sometimes relocated. You can find all markets in the region by day of the week in our overview of markets in Tuscany.

Arrival and parking

The old town is an electronically monitored ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) – do not drive in. Convenient parking garages are Il Campo (near Piazza del Campo), Santa Caterina (with escalators leading up towards the cathedral), and Stadio Fortezza, which is closed or has limited access during football matches and on Wednesdays due to the market. The train station is located below the old town; escalators also lead up from there. Motorhome drivers can find information in our article " Motorhome Pitches in Tuscany".

Tours and accommodation

City tours, wine tastings in Chianti, and excursions to San Gimignano from Siena can be found at GetYourGuide: Tours and activities in Siena . Those who want to experience the empty Piazza del Campo in the evening should stay overnight in the city – compare hotels and vacation rentals at Booking.com: Accommodation in Siena . Book early for accommodations around the Palio.

Excursions in the area

From Siena you can reach Chianti , the towered town of San Gimignano , the Renaissance town of Pienza in the Val d'Orcia, and of course Florence . About 20 km north along the Via Francigena lies the fortified village of Monteriggioni with its ring of walls.

Frequently asked questions about Siena