Hi everyone,
We are planning our trip to Italy. so far we are spending 2 nights in Venice, then 3 nights in Florence. We are spending our last 3 nights in Rome. So we have 2 nights in between Florence and Rome to spend somewhere in the Tuscany region. We are thinking of spending 2 nights in Siena. Is that too many? We dont want to spend only one night somewhere though, to reduce traveling. Is there enough to do in Siena to spend 2 nights there? We were only planning on taking trains/buses everywhere. But should we rent a car and drive around to different towns in Tuscany? Or can anyone recommend a different town to stay in for 2 nights?

Also, does Siena have any wineries/vineyards?

Hi pf,

Although many folks have extolled the beauties of Siena at night, I suggest that you are not staying in Venice long enough.

I would add one night to Venice and one night to Florence and do Siena as a daytrip from Florence.

Ira,
That is what we are thinking too. Can't decide. The thing is, we booked our hotels for Venice and Florence already so we would have to make some changes.

I lived in Siena for 4 months when I was in college and never tired of it. In fact,I'm going to Tuscany next week and spending two days in Siena. So 2 nights in Siena is not too much. Buon viaggio!

Depending on your arrival and departure times in Siena, you may actually have only one full day, and part of another, with two nights in a hotel. A car is useful in Siena, but you may find that most rental companies have a three day minimum. I think that Siena can, for the most part be experienced in one full day and night. Others may have a different opinion.

Hi pf,

Call right now, this very instant, and make the changes.

If you dial 1016868 before 011 and the number, it will only cost about 10 cents per minute.

Siena, what?s there to do? Piazza del campo, one of the most beautiful and famous piazza in Italy, the seashell shaped piazza where the Palio is run. On the lower end of the campo is the town hall and tower. The Palazzo Pubblico contains many works of Sienese art; one of the more famous frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti shows the effects of good and bad government. The Torre di Mangia provides a breath-taking view of the city (don?t try this if you have a weak heart or are claustrophobic). The Duomo (design most influenced by Giovanni Pisano) was built to impress and it does. Inside are an astonishing number of busts, statues, frescoes, and painting. The octagonal marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano is amazing, as are the works by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo. The Libreria Piccolomini contains many illuminated books and brilliant frescoes. The floor is covered by art but unfortunately this is covered by cardboard except during floorshows (bring on the nuns ? sorry). Outside the Duomo you can see the Archbishop?s palace, Spedale di Santa Marie delle Scale (1000 year old hospital contains frescoes that are huge), Museo dell?Opera del Duomo. There are palaces (palace of the Piccolomini, Logge del Papa, Loggia della Mercanzia, Palazzo Chigi-Saracini); churches (San Domenico-with the head of Saint Catherine, Basillica di San Francesco, Sant?Agostino) and enotece (the Enoteca Italia in the fortezza has more wines to try then you have time).
The market (by the fortezza) is on Wednesday mornings (about three hundred vendors providing basic goods to locals. Ceramics are sold all over but especially on the street between the Campo and Duomo.

But with all there is to do don?t miss just strolling through a real town that looks like it hasn?t changed in hundreds of years.

Thanks for all the help everyone. We are leaning towards adding a night in Venice, and adding a night on Florence, then renting a car and driving around Tuscany. I e-mailed the people to ask them.
That way we will see Siena in one day, and drive around and see some other towns too.

Good show, pf.

Have a great time.

Be sure to write a trip report when you get back.

Purplefreak: Send me an e-mail when you get a chance, I will give you some advice on parking in Siena.

I can't understand why Siena always has this "Difficult to park" In Siena in the last years many new car parks have been built, some even with escalaters, you can take any exit and find all the car parks you need.

I stayed in Siena for 7 nights to take a bit of a breather from my 4 month trip. For some reason, I never tired of it. But to be honest, I didn't do much...just "hung out" and ate lots of gelato. It's really a beautiful town. I visited it two months into my trip, and the campo did make me go "ah!". Believe me, after traveling and sightseeing everyday for months, not everything makes you go "ah!"

If you do go to Siena, I recommend the Cane e Gato restaurant. Reservations are most likely a most, as is a adventurous spirit. It's a fixed menu and comes out in several courses. Dinner is an event that takes 3 hours or so, and it is lovely. A very small restaurant that is family owned. You can do a search here and see it is very well reviewed. I ate there twice I loved it so much.

BTW, after I moved on to Florence, I went back to Siena to be tourguide to a fellow backpacker I had just met. I liked it that much! And it was worth it. Raechel and I are still friends today.

10 years hasn't been enough for Siena so 2 days is just a tease. I came in 94 to attend the language school and ended up staying. Every time I walk through the city I find something I have never seen before.

We stayed 2 nights and wished we had stayed more. One of the days was spent taking a bus to Pogobonsi (sp) and then into San Giamano (sp) - the place with all the towers. We met people on the way who spoke no english but we communciated with very well. They made sure we had the right stop and gave us a tip of where to eat. Splendido!

I think 2 nights might not be enough but, definitely you should take at least that much time in Siena. I loved it! We ate at Osteria le Logge just off the Campo and had a great meal. We parked at the Campo parking lot just outside town and had easy walk in.

Hi purplefreak. Where are you planning to stay in Siena? We'll be in Siena for 2 nights later this year. We were leaning towards staying at Palazzo Ravizza in Siena, but found out they are booked full. It seems like a lot of experienced Italy travelers have suggested staying outside of Siena. We're going the other direction and leaning towards staying inside the city walls. We can't decide how close to the Piazza Del Campo to stay.

mgib,

Try the Villa LIberty. It is right on the outside of the city but really the same distance walking to the main Piazza (del Campo) that it would be from the Ravizza.