Gems of Tuscany: Siena and San Gimignanoš
āŖAbout Siena
Siena is aĀ charming (and hilly) medieval city with a very proud people and history. Loved by locals and tourists alike, Siena offers a nice location from which to explore the region of Tuscany, and is just over an hour by car or bus (#131R) from Florence.Ā
The city's 17 "contrade" (neighborhood districts) extend outward from the Piazza del Campo (main public space). You may see locals sporting their "contrade" scarves on a number of special occasions and celebrations. We saw several parades and neighborhood gatherings where residents celebrated their history and heritage.
š§³Where to Stay
We were in Siena for an extended stay so we opted for an Airbnb owned by local Sienese host, Guido. He has two apartments in the same building that we would absolutely recommend. Both offer wonderful views and are in a great location in the heart of Siena!
For those with shorter stays or a preference for hotels, I've included a few recommendations well!Ā
š¼ļøWhat to See!
Highlights to visit include theĀ Piazza del Campo (main public square) andĀ Torre del MangiaĀ (tower) of theĀ Palazzo PubblicoĀ (city hall), theĀ Duomo di SienaĀ (cathedral), andĀ Fortezza MediceaĀ for lovely views of the town and hills of Tuscany.Ā
Also take time for a walk and simply enjoy losing yourself in the narrow alleyways. We enjoyed taking part in late afternoon aperitivo hour with an Aperol spritz and snacks, as well as the passeggiata (evening stroll).Ā Ā
If you'd like an overview of Siena or are looking for a guided tour, here's a recommendation!Ā
šWhere to Eat
Here's a list of our favorite places for food:
La Vecchia Taverna di BaccoĀ located just outside the Piazza del Campo heading toward Via Diacceto (the street with view of theĀ Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico).
Osteria da CiceĀ (from theĀ YouTube video by Jessi & Alessio Pasini - Tuscany.
Our favorite gelato in town was atĀ La Mandorla Siena - Artigiani del GelatoĀ near theĀ Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico.
For breakfast, we enjoyed the croissant sandwiches atĀ Bar Il PalioĀ in the Piazza del Campo while people-watching!
For good food and lovely views at sunset, Ristorante San DomenicoĀ (they also have gluten free pizza)
Another option is the popular Il Pomodorino Pizza Restaurant next door.Ā
For groceries, we appreciated the local recommendation from our Airbnb host -Ā Consorzio Agrario Siena.Ā Ā
š·Wine Tastings in Siena
When in Tuscany... we enjoyed lovely wine tastings with unique and delicious experiences!
š¦Day Trip to San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Italian hill town southwest of Florence. Encircled by medieval walls, it offers stunning views of the surrounding Tuscan landscape along with quaint eateries, gift shops, and towers.Ā
It's a worthwhile and easy day trip from Siena via private car hire or rental. It can also be accessed using public transportation by taking bus #130 from the Siena-ViaTozzi bus stop to the Porta San Giovanni stop in San Gimignano and/or train from Siena FS via transfer at Poggibonsi.Ā
-- You can buy bus tickets (5.80ā¬ each way) at the ticket officeĀ under the Siena-Via Tozzi bus stop or via theĀ Autolinee ToscanoĀ (AT)Ā bus app.Ā
-- If you opt to take the train, you can purchase a ticket from Siena FS to Poggibonsi via the Trenitalia app. Once you reach Poggibonsi, exit and walk up the hill to the bus stop and catch the #130 bus for the ~15 minute ride to San Gimignano.
-- Either option takes about an hour from Siena to San Gimignano.
We saw glimpses of the hill town on the final drive up the hill and were immediately wowed when we got off the bus at the Porta San Giovanni bus stop. San Gimignano is a quaint, small town with lots and lots of towers (and hills)!
While very touristy, San Gimignano is very welcoming and we enjoyed strolling the narrow streets, meandering through the parks, and taking pictures of the wonderful views of the Tuscan hillside! They also do a nice job of catering to visitors by offering clean toilets throughout the town (usually 1ā¬ to access), along with helpful signage around town and friendly shopkeepers!
As we were walking, we stumbled upon theĀ Rocca di MontestaffoliĀ (medievalĀ fortress ruins) just in time for Giovanni Terreni, who was performingĀ Dante's Divine Comedy - reciting the poem from memory) in the park for donations! Apparently the site has perfect acoustics for the performance, and I happened to come across him online while researching San Gimignano so it was especially fun to randomly see him and enjoy his powerful voice!Ā
We eventually made our way down and foundĀ CaffĆØ delle ErbeĀ on the Piazza delle Erbe overlooking the Piazza del Duomo. A tasty panini and bruschetta for lunch with beer for David and a local Vernaccia di San GimignanoĀ white wine for me (made with local Vernaccia grapes; tastes like a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay and wine only available in Tuscany).Ā
After lunch, we walked over to nearby Piazza della Cisterna forĀ Gelateria Dondoli, home of the gelato world champion 2006/2007 - 2008/2009!Ā
As a souvenir, we purchased a bottle ofĀ Vernaccia di San GimignanoĀ wine fromĀ La Buca di MontautoĀ shop. The wine is not readily available in the U.S. so we thought we'd enjoy while in Italy!
For the return trip from San Gimignano to Siena, we opted to do something different by taking the bus and train back.
-- To catch the #130 bus, walk just a bit further down the road from where we were dropped off to the Piazzale Montemaggio bus stop.
-- We got off at Poggibonsi bus/train transfer station and got on the regional train back to Siena (2.90ā¬ each).Ā
šNote: Taxis in Siena
Siena's taxi service claims to have 55 vehicles and 60 drivers in service. However, taxis can be hard to find, especially during peak travel and meal times. We waited over 20 minutes for a taxi to the wine tasting just outside of town (so plan ahead and allow extra time).
You can try sending an SMS/text message in English to the Siena Taxi Driver's Consortium. I did get a message back (alas, confirming they didn't have any taxis available at that time). Of course, you can ask proprietors to call a taxi for you in Italian, as we did when returning from our wine tasting outside of town.
By the way, on the day of our departure we waited 30 minutes and finally ended up walking to the Siena train station with our luggage (along with 8 others who were in the same predicament). The roughly 25-minute walk is doable, and we made the most of the situation and enjoyed the friendly walk through town together!Ā
Note: Uber is not available in Siena. An option is to book a private car in advance via service such as Happy to Visit (we did not use this service ourselves so please use at your discretion).Ā
āFor More Information:
For a more general overview of the region and a curated list that I created while planning, check out my *free* Tuscany Travel Wish List!Ā
You can also learn more by visiting any of the following:Ā
YouTube - Jessi & Alessio:Ā Slow Living in Tuscany | Exploring Siena, Val d'Orcia, Chianti, Pienza, San Gimignano
š¦Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you find this information to be helpful! If so, you're invited to offer a tip and "buy" me a gelato!
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