Province of Siena

Centrally located in Tuscany, the province of Siena boasts a unique landscape. It lies south of Florence , east of Pisa , north of Grosseto , and west of Arezzo , placing it in the heart of Tuscany. The province is divided into 35 municipalities, with the city of Siena, the largest, having a population of nearly 55,000.

Landscape, adjacent areas and nature

What makes the province so special in all of Tuscany, indeed almost all of Italy, is its breathtaking nature. On the one hand, the area is characterized by the hilly landscape, but the kilometers of vineyards, lakes, coastlines and wide fields are also worth seeing.

Due to its diverse landscape, the province of Siena is a popular holiday destination for cyclists, hikers , and tourists alike. There are numerous hiking trails and cycling routes. The province is also ideal for simply relaxing under the Italian sun with a high-quality glass of local wine and a Tuscan specialty. It's clear that the province offers a great variety of experiences, with many options for holiday activities and breathtaking scenery.

Provincial wine

Furthermore, the province is also popular with wine lovers, as it boasts fantastic small and large wineries offering a diversity of wines that is unique in all of Italy. The area produces not only everyday table wines, but also wines such as Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. The latter was even awarded the title of best wine in the world last year. To burn off the calories from the province's excellent wines, a tour through the Chianti region is highly recommended.

The small hills between Florence and Siena are called "Chianti". These hills are not only used for wine production, but also as olive groves.
Besides the Chianti region, which is a unique landscape feature, there are other scenic spots worth seeing. For example, the Mount Amiata (a mountain almost 1800 meters high, which is of volcanic origin), that Val al d'Elsa, the Montagnola Senese (slightly undulating landscape reminiscent of the «Chianti wine region» borders), Val di Merse (area located between the Farma and Merse rivers) or the Crete Senesi (the «clay minerals of Siena» represent a landscape shaped by erosion).

Arts and Culture

A great wealth of the province lies in its artistic and cultural heritage. This is not only in the capital Siena, but also in the small communities around it, such as Montepulciano, Pienza or Abbadia San Salvatore. The city of Siena itself is known across the globe for its town hall square. This has a special shell shape. But it's not just the shape that's unique; the horse races that take place twice a year on this pompous square are also unique to no other Italian city.

The city

The fact that Siena is a city rich in culture is demonstrated by the fact that the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. But it's not just the provincial capital itself that has a lot to offer, the areas around the city and the smaller villages in the area also hide true scenic and cultural treasures. The typical Tuscan flair can be felt everywhere here.