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 ...
ashford 09.08.2000 (10.09.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Siena (Italy)
Advantages: Stunning Disadvantages: Missed the Palio - steep climb to old town
Siena is probably most famous for the Palio - the psychotic, twice-yearly dash around Il Campo, the heart of this ancient, walled city. I'm sure most people are familiar with the carnival atmosphere generated during this frenetic, hell-for-leather race around the cobbles, but unfortunately the timing of our visit didn't coincide with the medieval equivalent of Whacky Races on sulph. Never mind.
The old town of Siena is built on and around three hills, and is completely free from traffic. Visitors have to park in one of several car parks outside the walls and proceed on foot. It's not a long walk, but it IS a steep walk. There are shuttle buses that run between the car parks and the town gates but, if you're like me and think impatience is a virtue, you can very-near kill yourself slogging up the practically vertical slope in ...
proxam 29.08.2005 (17.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Siena (Italy)
Advantages: Amazing medieval horse race Disadvantages: Felt like I was in the way of the locals
The Palio has to be witnessed when you visit Siena, so always try and visit either on the 2nd of July or the 16th of August. I've no idea why they run this race twice in a year. It's an amazing horserace held in the Piazza del Campo in the heart of the medieval city. The horses are blessed inside the town's churches in the morning and then as people leave the churches the festivities begin. Around 12ish, all the younger members of the city's contrada's (boroughs) and the tourists, begin to pour into the middle of the square. 50,000 people fit in the centre so it's a good idea to get into this square as soon as you can to guarantee a good spot, unless you're lucky enough to get hold of a view from the balcony of a hotel in the square. During the afternoon the sounds of drums can be heard in the old medieval streets as each contrada ...
MisterCheese 12.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Siena (Italy)
This intimate and very personable little restaurant has a devoted following of regulars who enjoy Simone Romi's skilled service and Mauro Lombardini's daily changing menu of creative Tuscan cuisine. There's at least one meatless dish nightly, and on vegetarian Wednesdays there's only one meat dish available. On my last visit I had an excellent risotto of zucchini, mint, and basil, a delicious lentil-and-turnip soup, pennette in tomato sauce sprinkled with crunchy cream, vegetable pie with a mashed-potato crust, and chicken with peppers and onions.
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