Ancona to Siena
 

Hi all,
My fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon for this August. Does anyone have any info on getting from Ancona to Siena? I'm considering taking a Ferry from Croatia that will get me to Ancona at 8:00 am and I'm wondering how it would be possible to get to SIena and how quickly that could be done. Basically bus or train from Ancona to Siena. Il Palio is that very day (16th) and we'd like to catch it. ANy help would be great!

Is there any way you could get there the day before? Other Fodorites who've actually attended are going to have to confirm this but I expect Siena is going to be a zoo that day and bus or train look like a fair jaunt.

Looking at trenitalia: there is an 8:25 and it takes almost 7 hours! Lots of changes and could you get from ferry station to train in time?

Googling "ancona to siena bus" I came up with 2 possibilities that have only one change. The first leaves at 8:15 and arrives in Siena at 2:12. I would expect it would take a miracle for you to make that bus from the ferry. I couldn't get the site to translate into English. Also couldn't get anything for August (probably too soon?) so used a Thursday in May.

Elenco fermate della citta' di partenza : ANCONA Elenco fermate della citta' di arrivo : SIENA
Seleziona Data Fermata Seleziona Data Fermata
24/05/2012 <red>08:15 CASELLO AUTOSTRADALE ANCONA NORD</red>

24/05/2012 14:00 Colonna San Marco (fermata Sena)
<red>24/05/2012 14:08 Piazza Gramsci (fermata Sena)</red>
24/05/2012 14:12 Antiporto Camollia
24/05/2012 14:18 Pza Stazione FS–Fta SENA
24/05/2012 14:22 Viale Toselli (Penny Market)

The second doesn't arrive until after the race has run so I didn't print it out but you can find it if you google as I did above. Based on other threads, Piazza Gramsci might be closer stop in Siena. I highlighted in red the start and stop stations. Also, remember that 24/5/2012 would be 5/24/2012 in U.S. and that military time is used.

Other Fodorites, please help here. There may be other bus lines. Would you consider renting a car, randydarr? What are you plans for after the race? Please wait for better, first-hand info here and congrats on your upcoming marriage!

Your info is incredibly helpful and I'm so grateful. We are now planning on getting there the day before. Siena is indeed a zoo on Palio day- I went once about 13 years ago. So, we're now thinking of heading to the Ancona airport after we get off the ferry to rent a car, which we will finally drop off in Florence, our departure city for the trip back to California. Thanks again!

Actually, car rental looks really easy in the town of Ancona so need for the airport run!

Great! Please say how it goes.