Amazing Siena. Artists have made it their muse, celebrities admire its beauty, and philosophers contemplate the nature of life of history. You will too as you gaze out onto the striking Piazza del Campo and enjoy a taste of their local cuisine. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with unique traditions and stories, so no visit to Tuscany is complete without a visit.
There are so many interesting and original Gothic buildings in the city that they seem to compete with each other for prominence. We will start our walk from the central square, the Piazza del Campo, famous for the Palio horse race that takes place twice a year and stars Siena’s local districts (“contrade”) competing against each other. The courageous among you can climb the 400+ steps to the top of the “Torre del Mangia” (city hall tower). At 87 meters, it is the third highest tower in Italy (the first is in Cremona, at 112 m, and can be our next trip). From the top, enjoy the 360° view over Siena’s rooftops and down into the shell-shaped square below. Art lovers can visit the civic museum and admire the paintings from the famous Sienese school. From here we will continue our walk to the magnificent Duomo, an outstanding example of Romanesque Gothic church architecture. For lunch we will stop in one of the most beautiful restaurants in Siena.
Melissa will join us after lunch and we will visit one of the city’s museums to see some famous art works.