The Medieval town of Siena is one of the jewels of Tuscany. A perfectly-preserved Gothic town of atmospheric cobbled streets, with Piazza del Campo and the magnificent Duomo at its heart.
This popular tour makes for a perfect introduction to the town, taking guests on a guided visit of the famous Cathedral and a walk through Siena’s historic Old Town.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: – Skip the line to Siena’s Cathedral – 2 hour tour to the best of the Old Town – Great value for money
Explore the wonders of Siena and its Cathedral with an experienced local guide
On this tour you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who will bring this fascinating town to life, and explain what Medieval Siena would have been like at the height of its splendour.
Walking through Siena’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, you will see the main square – Piazza del Campo, and hear the history behind Siena’s famous 17 contrade, the city districts that each have their own heraldic symbols and compete each year in the Medieval Palio.
The excursion concludes with a guided tour of Siena’s Duomo Cathedral where your ticket allows you to skip the line and get straight in.
Tour Itinerary
After meeting your local guide at the red-brick Basilica of San Domenico, you will set off through the narrow cobbled streets of Siena, and learn about the city’s rich history and its distinct contrade, or neighbourhoods, whose heraldic symbols – from the eagle to the unicorn and the she-wolf – can be seen throughout the old town.
The tour will make its way to Piazza del Campo, the city’s main square and the site of the world’s oldest, and most colourful horse race – the Palio. This shell-shaped square is a marvel, surrounded on all sides by statuesque Medieval structures including the distinctive 14th-century Palazzo Pubblico with its slender tower.
From here you head directly to the majestic Duomo of Siena with its duotone façade, a cathedral that’s considered to be one of the most spectacular in Europe.
With your skip-the-line ticket you will be able to enter the church without queueing, where your guide will reveal the secrets of this stunning Gothic building and the works of art that are to be found inside. These include masterpieces by artists like Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo.
=> Discover all the highlights of Siena’s Duomo
This highly recommended tour will give you an excellent overview of the city, its treasures and stories.
What you can do next
Once you’ve had a taste of the highlights of Siena you can dive in a little deeper with a visit to Palazzo Pubblico to see the famous frescoes. Anyone who has a fondness for history should visit the Santa Maria della Scala Complex, a unusual museum set in a Medieval former hospital. And once you’ve worked up an appetite, head for a trattoria or osteria for a taste of the local speciality pasta Pici served up with everything from wild boar sauce to pecorino cheese and pepper (pici cacio e pepe).
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This tour is offered by Viator. By booking through us, we receive a small commission, which helps keep lovefromtuscany.com going 🙂
