Castello di Ripa d'Orcia, Siena, Tuscany

Advantages: jFantastic Ambiance, Medieval City with Modern Feeling. Food and wine are excellent.
Disadvantages: None at all.

...I was lucky enough to be chosen, by the Colchester Town Council, to put together a Judo Team to represent the town at the Twin Town Games in the Magical City of Sienna in Tuscany, Italy. I was also fortunate enough to be working for the Local Newspapers at the time and they requested that I prepare a write-up of the event. I thought it would be churlish not to include a "Travelogue", of Sienna whilst I was there, so here it is. I found it hard to understand why the magical city of Siena is not on any of the tours offered by Travel Agents. Not that I am personally disappointed, for the very selfish reason that I was able to enjoy this Italian delight in comparative isolation from everything that smacks of "Holidays Abroad". Just 35 miles south of Florence, Siena is a jewel of medieval splendour. It invites the visitor... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful Glorious architecture, good food, Culture
Disadvantages: Difficult to find any

...The Tuscan city of Siena is one of those stunningly beautiful places that once you have visited you want to return and return again. This historic city, in the heart of Tuscany and surrounded by some delightful countryside, is a mere 1/2 hours train journey from Florence, and simply should not to be missed by any traveller to this very fascinating region of Italy. It has been described,accurately in my view, as a " ..Perfect medieval Tuscan city that is one of the most surprising places in the world.." Certainly it is an exquisite even extraordinary city of great beauty which manages to cope so well with the influx of tourists. Siena plays "second-fiddle" to no city and small though it may be, it is a proud place with a great deal of interest for the visitor. Self-obsessed it is but this beautifully-preserved town has few equals... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning
Disadvantages: Missed the Palio - steep climb to old town

..., and Belgian beer was, I had a nice ale and ate my lamb quietly... From our table we overlooked the dizzyingly tall Campanile (the second highest medieval tower in Tuscany) towering over the magnificent Palazzo Publico (town hall). Just as that was starting to get tedious, a wedding party exited the town hall and were greeted by the band. Oh, I didn't mention the band, did I? Yes indeed, a brass band from the Netherlands had been merrily trumpeting away while we were eating. I hadn't mentioned it earlier as brass band from the Low Countries seemed so very commonplace in Siena's Campo... Anyway, as the happy couple stepped into the piazza, the band started to play that wedding song from The Godfather whereupon practically everyone in the vast amphitheatre of Il Campo spontaneously burst into song and la-la'd along. You can't buy moments like... Read review

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