any tips, please?

we want to stop on our drive from Florence to Montalcino.

Thanks!!
dina

Any specifics? What do you want to see? How far are you willing to walk?

well.... we want to see il campo and the duomo.

not sure if we should try the lots around the city walls, or park by the train station and take a taxi.

and we're going on Palio Day. I know it will be crazy, but we're ready for it.

thanks

Hey Dina4 we were in Siena in April and found the parking to be a nightmare then. We drove around and around before coming across someone leaving. I would park and take a taxi in. Enjoy this beautiful city!

Seeing the palio should be great fun!

If you don't mind paying, there is an underground car park, just follow the blue parking sign 'Il Campo', you'll see it from the roads coming into Siena. From this car park, it's a good 5-8 minute walk to Il Campo.

s

On Palio day I don't think you are going to get within half a mile of a parking garage after about 7am. Parking is already difficult and tens of thousands of additional people will descend on the city to see the event.

That issue aside, there is normally a good chance of parking at the Fortezza (Not Wednesdays as that is market day) or near the football stadium (This is well signposted). Both offer relatively flat walks into the centre.

If those two are not available, the next best would be the parking garages at Porta Fontebranda or on Via Peruzzi as both these have escalators up to city level.
see map at http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/i...pe/mappark.jpg

Thanks for the great tips.

In case we don't have luck parking near the city walls...

Does anyone know about how far the train station is from the city center?

Or about how much a taxi would be?

Could we walk back down?

Thanks!

The train station is about a mile from the town centre, but all uphill.

There are frequent buses from just across the road - a 5 to 10 minute trip. Bus tickets can be bought from the office in the train station if it is open.

Personally I wouldn't drive within 10miles of Siena on Palio day. It's the biggest, busiest event of the year for the entire region. Roads into Siena are slow going on normal days (esp the last few miles) - they'll be gridlock both in & out of town on Palio day.

Take a train from a nearby town & use bus from the train station.

thanks for even more advice!

J62, What small town would you suggest to take the train from...

That morning, we are leaving from Florence, but our destination that night is Montalcino.

thanks again,
dina

Buonconvento is only 25 minutes by train but service is not frequent. You'll need to carefully plan your schedule to make the most of your time in Siena.

We found parking difficult in May 2006 without it being the Palio. We arrived at approximately 10am and it took us nearly 45 minutes to find a spot. We finally parked at one of the lots outside of town and took the escalator to the top of town. I would think it impossible during Palio IMO.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday.

Yes, parking in Siena is a nightmare. It's the one place my wife, who was driving at that moment, was truly chewed out by an Italian woman for "stealing" her parking spot; fortunately, we could not understand her Italian, but we clearly got the message! There are numerous public lots (for tourists); simply watch for the large blue "P" signs directing you, and be patient! And, going around the time of the Palio, I don't know how one would ever find a place to park!

Dina:
Any possibility of leaving Florence the day before and getting settled into Montalcino the night b/4 the Palio? That would make for a much easier drive to Buonconvento to catch the early train.