Siena 

Set in the stunning region of Tuscany, Siena city breaks are an excellent choice as the city can be visited on its own or combined with other Italian cities on a multi-centre break.  Arguably the most beautiful medieval city in Italy, it is full of tranquil squares, bustling streets, impressive churches and fascinating museums.  Its compact size makes it an ideal place to explore for a few days. 

What to see…
The Piazza del Campo is the focal point of the town and is famous for the Palio, a festival and horse race that takes place in the square twice every summer. Dominating the Piazza is the red brick Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia, a 102 metre tower built in the 1300’s which was once the tallest in Italy. The Palazzo contains historically important frescoes and the more energetic should climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the magnificent, wide reaching views – an image that will stay with you for a long time!  Nearby is the stunning Duomo di Siena, whose construction of alternating stripes of white and green-black marble are both unusual and a contrast to the red brick and tiles of the rest of the old city, and is renowned for its architecture and artworks.  Whist here you simply must visit the Fortezza Medicea, a giant fortress, which was built by Charles V in the 1500’s when Spain ruled Tuscany.  Also not to be missed is the Basilica di San Domenico, one of the oldest Tuscan monasteries and dating from the early 1200’s. No visit is complete without a trip to the Pinoteca Nazionale (National Art Museum) which contains a huge collection of Sienese masters from the 12^th to the 17^th centuries including the fondo oro (gold background) paintings for which Siena is renowned.

Where to stay…
The 3 star Italia Hotel is ideally located just a few steps away from the Porta Camollia, the traditional entrance to the medieval town. Clients have free access to the tennis court in the garden of the nearby sister hotel and to the open-air swimming pool which is open during the summer.  We would also recommend the beautiful 4 star Hotel Athena which is situated in the city centre close to the Cathedral.  If you want luxury then the 5 star Grand Hotel Continental, centrally located close to the Piazza del Campo, is an excellent choice.  The hotel is furnished in a majestic style with beautiful frescoed ceilings and stunning tapestries. 

What to eat…
Traditional Tuscan food takes many forms and is always delicious. Try the Ribollita (vegetable and bread soup) or Tagliata di Manzo (grilled sliced beef with a pepper salad).

When to go…
With cool winters and hot summers, the city is good to visit any time of year although it is particularly busy and accommodation at a premium during the Palio.

Getting there…
Although there are flights into Florence’s small Peretola airport, most flights operate to Pisa, which is approximately an hour’s transfer by airport train or coach. We offer flights to Pisa from 15 UK and Irish airports including Belfast, Bournemouth, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford. However, Siena is also popular as part of a multi-centre holiday, so how about combining with a stay in Florence, Rome or Venice? Call us for more information and we would be happy to tailor-make an itinerary just for you.

Click here to see all our special offers for Siena City Breaks