Siena Travel Guide (Unanchor) - See Siena in a Day

You'd need a week to see all of Siena. But, after visiting Florence, Venice, Rome or Pisa many people only have a day left for the stunning city in the center of Tuscany. Never mind, our self-guided walking tour makes sure you'll be getting the best out of that one day. See the most important artistic and architectural highlights and still find time for gourmet stops in Siena€s great coffee bars and restaurants!

== What you'll be able to see, learn and taste in a day ==
* Piazza del Campo, best town 'square' ever
* Siena's cathedral and the Libreria Piccolomini
* Piazza Salimbeni, HQ of the world's oldest bank
* Siena's Palazzo Pubblico and its early Renaissance paintings
* Meet Duccio€s Maest : the masterpiece of Siena's history making painter
* See Siena from the top: bird€s-eye view onto Siena and the beautiful Tuscan hills from the Opera del Duomo Museum (great photo op)
* Introduction to the Palio, Siena's famous bareback horserace
* Siena for foodies: coffee, sweets and Tuscan delicacies

Siena is often called a gothic dream and once you start walking around the car-free medieval center of the city you may in fact wonder whether you've entered a time machine. The perfectly kept architectural structure from the Middle Ages is the city's fortune today. During our tour you'll be learning why the city was able to keep its medieval look, or rather why Siena€s development came to a sudden halt in the early Renaissance.

But it doesn€t just come down to art and architecture. It goes without saying you haven't seen Siena as long as you haven't tried some of the area's delicacies like its famous salami and prosciutto and red wines (from Chianti Classico to Brunello di Montalcino), which are produced in the beautiful surrounding hills. Luckily for vegetarians, there€s more than meat. You'll be able to taste yourself through Tuscany's fantastic Pecorino cheeses, extra virgin olive oils and Siena€s sweet €˜n spicy cakes and almond cookies. Siena has to be explored on foot, so at least you'll be able to work off those calories right away.

You have an extra day in Siena? Don't worry. We have lot's in store for people who are lucky enough to spend more time in the city of the Palio: check out Siena's backstreets, climb Torre del Mangia, visit Santa Maria della Scala, Palazzo Chigi Saraceni or the Pinacoteca Nazionale museum; learn about Saint Catherine of Siena and about the city's synagogue in the old ghetto and don't miss out on some serious food shopping and wine tasting.

Still want more? You may have to do as I did. Pack your bags and move out here.