A Day In Siena, Italy

Located at the center of Tuscany, there's an old medieval city on top of a rolling hill, called Siena. This town has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. When you're planning to visit Italy for a short time, try to consider Siena. It can be visited in just a day. Siena is absolutely beautiful. Since the town is on a hill, expect to have great views on different levels. Plus the fire colored bricks along the pavements and the orange tones of the buildings gives the whole place it's warmth and charm.

Rode a bus from Florence to Siena and this is where the bus stop is. It's near NH Hotel Siena.

So for this post, I'll be posting 5 things that you can do in Siena for a day!

1. Duomo di Siena

This was the first stop that I made when I visited Siena. I was there around 9:00 am, and no one was there. It's good to be early since I had enough time to appreciate the exterior and take photos of it. After which, I lined up to buy tickets since the ticketing office opens at 10am. I bought the Acropoli Pass which included their newest addition "The Door of Heaven," and it only costs 20 euros. After I bought tickets, I went to Piazza del Campo to take pictures while no one was there.

Also, the cathedral opens at 10:30am.

The cathedral opens from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Here are some photos from "The Door of Heaven."

View from the top of the cathedral.

I still can't get over how beautiful this church is. The exterior and interior were intricately decorated, that you just can't stop staring them. From the floor to ceiling, everything was just bursting with colorful details.

2. Piazza del Campo

If you're in Siena, you'll surely won't miss this site. Located just a few minutes away Duomo di Siena, Piazza del Campo is a huge square where you can just lie down and do whatever you want there. Again, I was early so I was able to enjoy the piazza without anyone there. If you're planning to have lunch, I recommend to have it here since the view of this Piazza is stunning. Since I was on a budget, I didn't dine in on one of the restaurants there. Instead, I just bought a pizza and a drink somewhere and ate it there. A lot of people were doing it, so why not? Right?

Torre del Mangia

The square during lunch time. Stalls are popping out and people came to chill or have their lunch their.

3. Palazzo Salimbeni

I'm always in search of interesting architecture or structures that have so much of history in it. So this is included on my list. Palazzo Salimbeni is one of the World's Oldest Operating Banks. Since this building was built in the 14th century, various styles in different eras have been applied on this building. Though you can't really go in this building because they open it to the public maybe twice a year. You can still appreciate the exterior side.

4. Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico

I've read many reviews about this church, stating that there's nothing to see here. However, I'm glad that I didn't take their advice. I gave this place a visit out of curiosity and also because there was no entrance fee. Though there's no photography allowed inside, I don't think that this should hinder you to visit the place. Compared to the other cathedrals, the interior is not as full. The stained glass on the windows were really beautiful, and the relics were interesting to see. However, for some reason, being there was a different experience. You can really feel the solemnity of the place and you can actually pray in there if you want to. This cathedral is about the experience rather than just looking at it.

5. Orti Dei Tolomei

If you want to have a break from the busy scenery in the city center, Orti Dei Tolomei is the best place to go. It's a park where you can either have a picnic, read a book, or a place to just enjoy nature. Plus this park has a beautiful panoramic view of Siena.

Here are some shots that I took while walking around Siena.

Siena may be a small city, but its charm will win you over. You can just walk aimlessly on the old streets and have a wonderful time appreciating the surroundings. Plus you don't really need to ride anything when you're in the center because it's walking distance everywhere!

Will I ever visit Siena again? Yes, I will definitely be back soon! :)