One hour by train from Florence (although the two cities have along-standing feud so it may as well be in a different country), four hours from Venice and three from Rome, Siena is very easy to reach from wherever you are in Italy – which makes it an absolute must-visit to add to your Italian itinerary.
The small citadel sits on top of a mountain right in the middle of Tuscany; the old city within 7km of fortified wall; the bustling modern city just outside. Most tourists in Siena are day-trippers (they arrive at about 10am and leave at about 6pm), so it can get quite crowded in the middle of the day – and that’s why it’s a good idea to stay in the old city if you can: in the early morning and late evening it’s much calmer and quieter.
If you’re looking for a nail bar or a supermarket, you won’t find either in old Siena. It’s a warren of
