One concern I have with renting a car is paying $20/day to park it. I don't want to be restricted to hotels which provide parking. I understand Siena has some free parking areas. Has anyone had any experience with these? Is there a safety issue? One is by the train station I think. Are they convenient enough? Thanks for your help. Pam <BR><BR>

Pam<BR>Where are you staying in Siena?<BR><BR>E-mail me as I had experience parking in Siena early in June. Pretty exciting (interesting) to say the least.<BR><BR>There are several free lots depending on the time you arrive each evening, also some pay lots. Unless you are staying very near the train station, don't plan on parking there as you will have to walk a long way to "Centro" or take a taxi.

Good luck finding a spot. Last trip, 1 hour, round & round Siena looking for 1 spot. My advise get there very early well before 9:00am. I found all of the parking locations, full, all street parking full.

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Jim, why don't you post your experience? I was thinking of renting a car to visit Sienna to be more flexible with the schedule, but if I had to be so early in the morning, it defeats the purpose of using the car in the first place.

Siena is the city of Italy with the most parking lots per capita in the whole of Italy. most were built for the 2000 Jubilee-Coming on the Superstrada, at the exit Siena West you have the Parcheggio Il Duomo which I find to be the worst located and the brand new one called Fontebranda then at the exit Siena Sud the parcheggio Il campo which is a 5 storey underground parking (very well located and always has places for parking, except maybe the day of the palio)Close to the Porta Ovile gate you can park in the brand new underground parking named S.Francesco that also has escalators that take you in town and the Parcheggio Ovile All the above carparks are underground and you pay 24 hours except for San Francesco that after 8.oo pm is free. The most "touristic" car park (this is where Lorenz probably was trying to park)is around the fortess or the soccer stadium, (these also are free after 8.00pm). I highly reccomend you do not even try to park here on market day (Wednesday). The other solutions are the free car parks that are at the Due Ponti-train station-Basketball-stadium that have a small shuttle bus service that takes you in the centre of town called "Pollicino"

Sorry me again , you can leave the car in those free car parks, crime is practicaly non existent in Siena

Dario: Thanks for the ideas. I'm sure others also appreciate them. Carl

Thanks for all the good information. Jim I think we will be staying near the San Dominico church in a private home. Albergo Bernini was full but referred us to his daughter's home 5 minutes away. I am a little unsure about this since his English and my Italian constructed a little bit of a comunication barrier. Anyway I will email you.<BR><BR>Dario thank you very much. I printed your info. It will definitely help. Pam