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Siena

Landmark

Siena

  • Florence
  • 2–3 hours
  • 1 experience to book

Gothic hill city built round the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the Palio horse race runs every 2 July and 16 August.

Things to do at Siena

Guided tours

About Siena

Siena was Florence's great medieval rival, and its centre still looks much as it did in the 1300s. The streets drop into Piazza del Campo, a sloping shell of red brick divided into nine sections for the Nine who governed the city from 1287 to 1355. The Palazzo Pubblico and its 102-metre Torre del Mangia close the lower side.

On 2 July and 16 August the square is covered in earth for the Palio horse race. Up the hill, the striped marble cathedral has an inlaid marble floor that is uncovered only part of the year; in 2026, until 15 November.

Know before you go

  • The centre is hilly and largely pedestrianised; expect steep lanes.
  • Cathedral entry is a separate ticket; cover shoulders and knees.
  • The cathedral's marble floor is uncovered until 15 November 2026.
  • Palio days (2 July and 16 August) bring very large crowds and closures around the Campo.