Will be near Siena for a week at the end of May. What place are must sees and places must eat at - also are there any festivals that I should know about in Siena or Florece at this time of year?

You MUST eat at Cane & Gato (Dog & Cat) but please make your reservations now! The food is unsurpassed. It only has 10 tables and all is freshly prepared by the Chef/Owner and his wife. The meal will be a leisurely one so don't plan anything else that evening. But WOW!

Do you have a phone number for making a reservation?

One of the most striking feelings in Siena is the view of Piazza del Campo in the early morning, around 7/7:30am. There's a caffè bar in Via di Città with a table on a balcony overlooking the piazza ... having breakfast there with the sight of the powerfull and totally empty piazza is undescribable. Piazza del Campo is also something else late at night. Of course, by staying out of town, you'd have to make a small, but worthy "sacrifice" ... <BR> <BR>Other "musts" in Siena are certainly the Palazzo Pubblico (with Simone Martini's Maestà and the famous equstrian portrait of Guidoriccio - not really his in my opinion - and Lorenzetti's "Effects of Good and Bad Government") and the marvelous Duomo and Museum (Duccio's Maestà). Going up the Torre del Mangia (88 meters) will require some breath but the view is outstanding. A stroll through Via di Città and Via Banchi di Sotto with all its Gothic facades is also a must. <BR> <BR>If you want to know more about, just fill Fodor's TEXT SEARCH window with &lt; walking tour of siena &gt; and tick Match the Exact Phrase option. Leave the TOPIC SEARCH window blank. <BR> <BR>The Maggiofiorentino festival will be taking place in Florence. For a schedulle of events and details try <BR>http://www.maggiofiorentino.com/ <BR> <BR>The Cane e Gatto is on Via Pagliaresi 6, Tel. +39 0577 287545. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

I have two favourite places in Siena (well, all of Siena is a favourite with me but...) the Fontebranda at night, and the view from the Facciatone (the unfinished west end of the projected new Duomo). <BR> <BR>This is simply stunning, and - as it includes the Torre di Mangia - surpasses the view from there IMO. <BR>

One night only in Siena for dinner: <BR> <BR>Cane e Gatto? Le Logge? or Al Marsili? <BR>

Someone must hace a preference???

We haven't been to the Cane & Gatto ... The Le Logge had a nicer atmosphere. The Al Marsili had better food. Difficult to choose ... it would depend on my mood <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

One of my favorite places in all of Italy happens to be in Siena. It's the Piccolomini Library in the Duomo. The wall and ceiling frescos by Pinturicchio will take your breath away. Don't miss it.