This past winter, I had the privilege of studying abroad in the enchanting Tuscan town of Siena, Italy. After mornings spent studying at the Dante Alighieri Language Institute, I had time to explore everything this beautiful city had to offer.
From cobbled side streets to sprawling overlooks of the rolling hills of Tuscany, Siena is the perfect place to escape the typical tourist hubs of Italy. Here are some must have experiences in one of my favorite cities: Siena, Italy!
1. Eat a Picnic Lunch in Piazza del Campo
Every summer, Piazza del campo is transformed into a horse racing stadium. In the winter, the cobbled square allows only foot traffic. It is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the heart of the city. Grab a panino or slice of pizza and a bottle of wine and enjoy a slow afternoon.
A. Where to grab your lunch in Siena, Italy
Trattoria Papei
Located right off of Piazza del Campo is Piazzo Mercato, hiding this fantastic panini shop. Trattoria Papei boasts a menu of panini featuring house cured meats ranging from mortadella to porchetta to prosciutto.
The panini are made with a range of toppings including their meats, cheeses, and both fresh and pickled vegetables. Choose from their menu or create your own, but be sure to savor every bite.
Al Buongusto
Al Buongusto is, believe it or not, a make your own burger place. Before you turn your nose and say a burger is the last thing you want in Italy, hear me out. These burgers are completely unique and unlike any burger you’ve tried before.
After choosing your meat, you choose whatever cheese you want and either a classic hamburger bun or ciabatta. Then, the fun happens. They offer spread options ranging from classic catsup to an eggplant tapenade to roasted red pepper mayonnaise. You can then choose toppings such as artichokes, roasted peppers, grilled spinach, and an assortment of other veggies.
2. Visit the Siena, Italy Outdoor Market
Every Wednesday from 8:30-1:30, an array of vendors take over La Lizza on the outskirts of the city. The market boasts plenty of cheap and thrifty finds ranging from jackets to sandwiches, all at low prices. Browse the market for books, music, clothes, decorations, kitchen utensils, plants, fresh fish and meat, vegetables and fruit, and panini made on the spot. After shopping, take a detour to the city lookout beside the market, it’s the perfect place to enjoy your new finds.
3. Climb a Tower in Siena, Italy
Perhaps my favorite way to see a city: getting to the top of it! Siena has plenty of tall options from the one in the heart of Piazza del campo (although I don’t recommend this one, you won’t be able to see the campo if you choose this tower) to others all around town. Enjoy sprawling views of Siena and the adjacent countryside and pinpoint from the sky other places you’d like to see.
4. Get Lost in Siena, Italy
Siena has plenty of gorgeous main and side streets to explore, so why don’t you? My only advisory is that Siena is a town on a hill, don’t travel too far downhill because you will have to walk back up eventually. While exploring, peak into the cute little city shops and be sure to stop at one of the many amazing gelato shops in town.
Getting lost is also the perfect way to get to know the contrade. Siena is incredibly unique as every part of town is broken down into an extremely competitive contrada, each with their own animal mascot. If you see an animal motif anywhere in town, this isn’t random, that’s the contrada’s mascot! Personally I stayed in la chioccola, or the snail contrada and even being there for a month made me incredibly passionate about my little part of town.
5. Go To Church (And a Museum Too)
Each contrada in Siena has its very own museum and church dedicated to the respective contrada. The churches themselves boast plenty of history but the museums are tons of fun to explore. Each museum houses the prize banners from every year that the certain contrada won in il palio, or the horse race of Siena.
They also house the traditional costume worn by each contrada’s men before the horse race. My host brother and father were incredibly active in their contrada and each had pictures of themselves wearing the traditional outfit. Men also typically practice flag spinning before the race and put on a show for their contrada.
A. Visit Il Duomo Of Siena, Italy
Il Duomo is one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Although there are many duomi across Italy, this one is unique in that it is primarily covered in black and white stone, the colors of the city. Be sure to explore it inside and out, it certainly rivals it’s florentine and milanese counterparts.
6. Spend a Night on The Town
Surprisingly enough, some of my favorite nightlife in Italy is in Siena. Some of my favorite spots:
Bella Vista with a fun and vibrant dance floor in the theme of Havana;
Maudit Pub – a classic English pub with plenty of seating and a fun, young atmosphere without the craziness of a nightclub;
San Paolo – a pub right off of Piazzo Il Campo that packs every Monday night with expats and locals alike for hours of karaoke starting at 11:00 pm are some of my many favorites.
Like what you see? subscribe to my newsletter!
