Siena at Christmas
 

Vacation schedules coincide, so my husband, daughter and I are packing warm clothes and heading first to Rome, then to Siena for Christmas, then to Pienza. We'll have a car, and would love suggestions for music, church services, restaurants. Grazie e Ciao!

Any time you are traveling in Italy the week immediately following Christmas, you need to plan on two things: Lots of Italians traveling at the same time, and many places observing a Dec. 26 closing.

What kind of music are you interested in?

You might also google up the term "persepe" and make a point of seeking them out during that period of time.

I really enjoyed both of these restaurants in Siena:

Antica Osteria da Divo http://www.osteriadadivo.it/
La Taverna di San Giuseppe http://www.tavernasangiuseppe.it/

Sienna would be a fine place to spend Christmas...services at the interesting looking cathedral should be quite beautiful. We've stayed at the Hotel Santa Caterina and can highly recommend it as a choice for you. Don't know your budget but four years ago we had a rate of about €80. It's located just outside the Porto Romano..the south gate to the city...easy walk to the main piazza and nearby aforementioned cathedral.

The back terrace of the hotel has lovely grounds that face into the valley below..there is parking in the rear.

Pienza is a fairly short, scenic drive to the south.
www.hscsiena.it/

stu tower

typing mistake....SIENA...my error..

stu

Thank you all!
Stepsbeyond - the term 'persepe' isn't even in my dictionary, so I'm intrigued and off to google. My tastes run to classical, but my husband and daughter are much more eclectic. Joannyc - we're reserved at San Giuseppe - had a wonderful meal there 3 years ago - and looking into da Divo for this time.
Stu Tower - We are confirmed at a small, spare hotel very near the Campo. But since parking out at the Fortezza is complicated, a hotel with parking just outside Porto Romano sounds good for the next visit. Yes I think the Duomo should have a lovely service, maybe with some good music? And as I understand it, the Italian Siena has two 'n's, the American has one 'n'. So you can't miss either way!
Thanks again for your comments. Happy Holidays.

I think steps made a typo. Google "presepe".