During our Naturetrek holiday in Tuscany last May a day trip to Siena was included. We were driven there in the two minibuses and dropped off just outside the main gate to the city to save us walking up the steep hill from the car parks below. Perched on top of a hill with beautiful views over the surrounding Tuscan countryside Siena is enclosed by a well preserved medieval wall; I had time to do a quick sketch while we waited for our holiday leaders to return. We then all set off together to walk to the Piaza del Duomo where maps, leaflets, a cafe and toilets were available in the museum opposite the Cathedral; we then split up to explore on our own, although some stayed with the leaders and headed to the Siena Botanic Garden, where we were to rendevouz later.
This was the busiest area of Siena with crowds of tourists swarming around the Cathedral and long queues to go inside. We wandered around the outside of the Duomo which is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the city and one of the best known examples of Italian Gothic architecture. It is certainly a striking building with its black and white exterior and 77m high campanile next to the cathedral but we decided not to go in as my husband was keen to have enough time to visit Siena’s National Art Gallery. But Siena is a work of art and architecture in itself. We walked around the steep, narrow cobbled streets for a while and found the famous square, the Piazza del Campo – not a square but a huge bowl shaped open space – admired the surrounding medieval buildings and another tall bell tower (Torre del Mangia) that can be seen from the piazza. For a fee we could have climbed the tower for good views over the city but we carried on, leaving the crowds behind and went to find the art gallery, the Pinacoteca Nazional, which I review separately. My husband spent longer than me studying the art so I took the opportunity to find shops and a supermarket nearby and bought a few presents to take home.
Afterwards, not wanting much to eat for lunch as we knew we’d have a good meal at our agriturismo in the evening we shared a pizza in a small cafe (the only pizza I’ve ever eaten in Italy!) before making our way to meet our group in the Botanic Garden. However, as we approached the garden we noticed an interesting display case beside the pavement; it contained a display of natural history pictures and models with an invitation to visit the Natural History Museum of Siena which was just behind it, set back from the road. Entrance was by donation and we spent a happy hour or so exploring the amazing collection in this quiet, uncrowded museum (see separate review) before making our way to find our group at the Botanic Garden of Siena (also separate review).
Siena is obviously busy most months of the year and as we were there on a weekend in May it was fairly busy, though not as bad as it would be in the summer, however we did manage to find some interesting less crowded alternatives to the obvious tourist attractions.
