Touring Siena And The Siena Countryside

The commune of Siena, besides the towns listed above is also the heart of one of Italy's most impressive "strade del vino". Winding through the many picturesque hill towns and regions south, east and west includes Chianti Classico region, Senese, Brunello and Vino Nobile of Montalcino and Montepulciano and the Maremma which also produces wine. There is much to explore.

Siena

Siena is a manageable Florence. Located about 45 minutes south of its nemisis, Siena has a surprisingly country feel when compared to Florence. And here in the south you are without the menacing scooters, mopeds and speeding cars within the old walls that remain intact....something Florence lost when the combustion engine was invented, and the walls fell to progress.

Palio

Touring Siena, And The towns of the Siena countryside of Tuscany such as touring Volterra, touring San Gimigano, visiting Montalcino, walking through and enjoying the wine of Montepulciano, traveling to nearby Pienza, and the forgotten San Quirico val d'Orcia as you head south in Tuscany.

The commune of Siena, besides the towns listed above is also the heart of one of Italy's most impressive "strade del vino". Winding through the many picturesque hill towns and regions south, east and west includes Chianti Classico region, Senese, Brunello and Vino Nobile of Montalcino and Montepulciano and the Maremma which also produces wine. There is much to explore.

Siena

Siena is a manageable Florence. Located about 45 minutes south of its nemisis, Siena has a surprisingly country feel when compared to Florence. And here in the south you are without the menacing scooters, mopeds and speeding cars within the old walls that remain intact....something Florence lost when the combustion engine was invented, and the walls fell to progress.

Palio - Yes this is one of those things that are well publicized, the Medieval equestrian challenge little changed since the 1300's. Every July 2nd and August 15th where the final 13 of the neighborhoods (contralto) challenge each other to a race around the campo (central Piazza or Plaza) celebrating local religious holiday and a peaceful means of settling rivalries, or so it has ben said. The "Palio" is a flag, and the competition - twice around the dirt track lining the Campo, wins that flag for the neighborhood. To be in the campo for the race is both costly and difficult. And if you find yourself in the middle of the Campo with the race going around you and the land dips down, I don't think you see anything because of the position. Plus that there are no bathrooms and you are there in the middle, in the heat, for some 5 hours. Get the picture? Our tip is to attend the time trials the day before. Arrive early and purchase a seat from one of the restaurants that ring the campo (cost would be about 50.00 euro each seat - the day of the Palio it jumps to much more - hundreds of euro. The time trials on July 1 area dress rehearsal and for intent is indeed what the Palio would be the next day. Best yet, that day and night the neighborhoods are alive with crowds walking through singing competitive songs, waving flags and generally full of hope for a race that has not come to pass. That night dinners are set up in the streets - long tables are placed for the neighborhoods and their racer to have a celebration of the race to come. Don't attend the Palio, attend the trials the day before and watch the Palio on television the next day.

Climb The Bell Tower< p>It's some 200-250 steps to the top of the tower where the enormous bell of Siena hangs silent. The views are incredible from this spot. Its layout on the hill comes into focus with an incredible view of the rooftops and the raw Siena colors, including the distant countryside. It costs around 4500 lire and be advised to get an early start - the narrow steps become claustrophobic as you near the top and the trip down becomes a squeeze with the traffic arriving sharing the same space.

The Underground Cisterns

If you have the connections, if you have a pot of money to pay passage, then perhaps you could see the medieval underground tunnels that were long ago carved and bricked by the wealthy families intent of preserving their clean water supply. If you can't make the passage, a book of photographs, narrated in Italian, can be purchased showing these underground caverns that meander below Siena some 200 feet down. An obscure coffee table book for home.

The Library of The Duomo

The duomo (central cathedral) of Siena is an incredible and stunning piece of architecture. Its striped white and dark green marble easily makes the Duomo one of the more unusual places to visit. Very cool design. Very Italian. The interior is equally fantastic. But also within its walls is a lesser known library of beautifully written books that provide an obscure side trip while there.

As far as restaurants, Siena has many. And, all feature an identical menu of Wild Boar, Taggiatelli with Porcini, Osso Bucco and the like. There is one restaurant that stands head and shoulders above the others, Castlevecchio on Castlevecchio street. They have taken the traditional fare of Siena and placed a contemporary twist on it. The result is worthy of a magazine spread - wonderful presentations and haute cuisine a la Italia. It is also a tiny place that begins filling at 8:00. Reservations are a must as they have but a few tables.

Volterra

An austere fortified town with an illustrious history as the last Etruscan stronghold against the Roman conquerors Piazza. San Giovanni where the bare facade of the duomo belies the beautiful works of art inside. Here you have the evidence in place of Italy's past glories - Etruscan remains of walls, art and and necropolis, Roman amphitheaters and the roads and walls that were built as the area saw struggles and conquerors come and go through time.

Monteriggioni

On the Superstrada from points north of Siena you come across this most curious place that deserves a stop. Monteriggioni is a tiny fortified hamlet, it's almost laughable it's so cute. Here are a handful of houses, couldn't be more than 10 - 20, and a thick wall with gates built around it. The hill which it is built on is equally small. So the effect is this - a tiny spiked hill with a small circular wall. It appears like a medieval king's crown. Walking from one gate to the other (there are only two) takes perhaps a hundred steps. Really interesting place. A historical snap shot of how the larger walled cities once came from humble beginnings.

The commune of Siena, besides the towns listed above is also the heart of one of Italy's most impressive "strade del vino". Winding through the many picturesque hill towns and regions south, east and west includes Chianti Classico region, Senese, Brunello and Vino Nobile of Montalcino and Montepulciano and the Maremma which also produces wine. There is much to explore.

Siena

Siena is a manageable Florence. Located about 45 minutes south of its nemisis, Siena has a surprisingly country feel when compared to Florence. And here in the south you are without the menacing scooters, mopeds and speeding cars within the old walls that remain intact....something Florence lost when the combustion engine was invented, and the walls fell to progress.

Palio - Yes this is one of those things that are well publicized, the Medieval equestrian challenge little changed since the 1300's. Every July 2nd and August 15th where the final 13 of the neighborhoods (contralto) challenge each other to a race around the campo (central Piazza or Plaza) celebrating local religious holiday and a peaceful means of settling rivalries, or so it has ben said. The "Palio" is a flag, and the competition - twice around the dirt track lining the Campo, wins that flag for the neighborhood. To be in the campo for the race is both costly and difficult. And if you find yourself in the middle of the Campo with the race going around you and the land dips down, I don't think you see anything because of the position. Plus that there are no bathrooms and you are there in the middle, in the heat, for some 5 hours. Get the picture? Our tip is to attend the time trials the day before. Arrive early and purchase a seat from one of the restaurants that ring the campo (cost would be about 50.00 euro each seat - the day of the Palio it jumps to much more - hundreds of euro. The time trials on July 1 area dress rehearsal and for intent is indeed what the Palio would be the next day. Best yet, that day and night the neighborhoods are alive with crowds walking through singing competitive songs, waving flags and generally full of hope for a race that has not come to pass. That night dinners are set up in the streets - long tables are placed for the neighborhoods and their racer to have a celebration of the race to come. Don't attend the Palio, attend the trials the day before and watch the Palio on television the next day.

Climb The Bell Tower< p>It's some 200-250 steps to the top of the tower where the enormous bell of Siena hangs silent. The views are incredible from this spot. Its layout on the hill comes into focus with an incredible view of the rooftops and the raw Siena colors, including the distant countryside. It costs around 4500 lire and be advised to get an early start - the narrow steps become claustrophobic as you near the top and the trip down becomes a squeeze with the traffic arriving sharing the same space.

The Underground Cisterns

If you have the connections, if you have a pot of money to pay passage, then perhaps you could see the medieval underground tunnels that were long ago carved and bricked by the wealthy families intent of preserving their clean water supply. If you can't make the passage, a book of photographs, narrated in Italian, can be purchased showing these underground caverns that meander below Siena some 200 feet down. An obscure coffee table book for home.

The Library of The Duomo

The duomo (central cathedral) of Siena is an incredible and stunning piece of architecture. Its striped white and dark green marble easily makes the Duomo one of the more unusual places to visit. Very cool design. Very Italian. The interior is equally fantastic. But also within its walls is a lesser known library of beautifully written books that provide an obscure side trip while there.

As far as restaurants, Siena has many. And, all feature an identical menu of Wild Boar, Taggiatelli with Porcini, Osso Bucco and the like. There is one restaurant that stands head and shoulders above the others, Castlevecchio on Castlevecchio street. They have taken the traditional fare of Siena and placed a contemporary twist on it. The result is worthy of a magazine spread - wonderful presentations and haute cuisine a la Italia. It is also a tiny place that begins filling at 8:00. Reservations are a must as they have but a few tables.

Volterra

An austere fortified town with an illustrious history as the last Etruscan stronghold against the Roman conquerors Piazza. San Giovanni where the bare facade of the duomo belies the beautiful works of art inside. Here you have the evidence in place of Italy's past glories - Etruscan remains of walls, art and and necropolis, Roman amphitheaters and the roads and walls that were built as the area saw struggles and conquerors come and go through time.

Monteriggioni

On the Superstrada from points north of Siena you come across this most curious place that deserves a stop. Monteriggioni is a tiny fortified hamlet, it's almost laughable it's so cute. Here are a handful of houses, couldn't be more than 10 - 20, and a thick wall with gates built around it. The hill which it is built on is equally small. So the effect is this - a tiny spiked hill with a small circular wall. It appears like a medieval king's crown. Walking from one gate to the other (there are only two) takes perhaps a hundred steps. Really interesting place. A historical snap shot of how the larger walled cities once came from humble beginnings.

Yes this is one of those things that are well publicized, the Medieval equestrian challenge little changed since the 1300's. Every July 2nd and August 15th where the final 13 of the neighborhoods (contralto) challenge each other to a race around the campo (central Piazza or Plaza) celebrating local religious holiday and a peaceful means of settling rivalries, or so it has ben said. The "Palio" is a flag, and the competition - twice around the dirt track lining the Campo, wins that flag for the neighborhood. To be in the campo for the race is both costly and difficult. And if you find yourself in the middle of the Campo with the race going around you and the land dips down, I don't think you see anything because of the position. Plus that there are no bathrooms and you are there in the middle, in the heat, for some 5 hours. Get the picture? Our tip is to attend the time trials the day before. Arrive early and purchase a seat from one of the restaurants that ring the campo (cost would be about 50.00 euro each seat - the day of the Palio it jumps to much more - hundreds of euro. The time trials on July 1 area dress rehearsal and for intent is indeed what the Palio would be the next day. Best yet, that day and night the neighborhoods are alive with crowds walking through singing competitive songs, waving flags and generally full of hope for a race that has not come to pass. That night dinners are set up in the streets - long tables are placed for the neighborhoods and their racer to have a celebration of the race to come. Don't attend the Palio, attend the trials the day before and watch the Palio on television the next day.

Climb The Bell Tower

It's some 200-250 steps to the top of the tower where the enormous bell of Siena hangs silent. The views are incredible from this spot. Its layout on the hill comes into focus with an incredible view of the rooftops and the raw Siena colors, including the distant countryside. It costs around 4500 lire and be advised to get an early start - the narrow steps become claustrophobic as you near the top and the trip down becomes a squeeze with the traffic arriving sharing the same space.

The Underground Cisterns

If you have the connections, if you have a pot of money to pay passage, then perhaps you could see the medieval underground tunnels that were long ago carved and bricked by the wealthy families intent of preserving their clean water supply. If you can't make the passage, a book of photographs, narrated in Italian, can be purchased showing these underground caverns that meander below Siena some 200 feet down. An obscure coffee table book for home.

The Library of The Duomo

The duomo (central cathedral) of Siena is an incredible and stunning piece of architecture. Its striped white and dark green marble easily makes the Duomo one of the more unusual places to visit. Very cool design. Very Italian. The interior is equally fantastic. But also within its walls is a lesser known library of beautifully written books that provide an obscure side trip while there.

As far as restaurants, Siena has many. And, all feature an identical menu of Wild Boar, Taggiatelli with Porcini, Osso Bucco and the like. There is one restaurant that stands head and shoulders above the others, Castlevecchio on Castlevecchio street. They have taken the traditional fare of Siena and placed a contemporary twist on it. The result is worthy of a magazine spread - wonderful presentations and haute cuisine a la Italia. It is also a tiny place that begins filling at 8:00. Reservations are a must as they have but a few tables.

Volterra

An austere fortified town with an illustrious history as the last Etruscan stronghold against the Roman conquerors Piazza. San Giovanni where the bare facade of the duomo belies the beautiful works of art inside. Here you have the evidence in place of Italy's past glories - Etruscan remains of walls, art and and necropolis, Roman amphitheaters and the roads and walls that were built as the area saw struggles and conquerors come and go through time.

Monteriggioni

On the Superstrada from points north of Siena you come across this most curious place that deserves a stop. Monteriggioni is a tiny fortified hamlet, it's almost laughable it's so cute. Here are a handful of houses, couldn't be more than 10 - 20, and a thick wall with gates built around it. The hill which it is built on is equally small. So the effect is this - a tiny spiked hill with a small circular wall. It appears like a medieval king's crown. Walking from one gate to the other (there are only two) takes perhaps a hundred steps. Really interesting place. A historical snap shot of how the larger walled cities once came from humble beginnings.

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