Siena vs. Florence
 

I am visiting Italy in October and am trying to decide whether I should stay in Siena or Florence longer.
I was going to stay in Siena 3 days but now I'm wondering if it would be better to stay in Florence 3 days and do a quick visit to Siena. Any suggestions?

Florence is always my choice. Why? More great art and magnificent churches, history, architecture, variety of shopping and great restaurants (of every price range), scenery, and on. Plus it's a good transportation hub with trains and buses from the city center. There are nearby suburbs with great sights such as Fiesole, Piazzale Michelangelo,and San Miniato al Monte.

Siena is interesting. The Duomo is truly beautiful. It's hilly and the train station is outside of town. Never found the food to live up to Florence, but that could be my misfortune.

For me, Florence is glorious and Siena is interesting. I have spent a couple of days in Siena when it was as dead as doornails in mid afternoon. I like Siena for a morning and lunch or a late afternoon through evening visit.

Florence is wonderful, Siena by bus for a day trip.

>For me, Florence is glorious and Siena is interesting<

Agree completely with tuscanlifeedit. Consider Fiesole if staying longer in Florence.

Fiesole is not in central Florence ..
I would not stay there.

It might be a LOT better if you'd tell us what made you decide on both of these places.

Sorry, but as "glorious" as Florence undoubtedly is, those marbles in the nave floor of the Siena doumo are just as "glorious" IMO.

a day is Siens was enough for me...it was as touristy and as crowded as Florence

Fiesole was an easy bus ride from the area around the train station when we were in Florence.

We based in Florence and took the train to Siena. As tuscanlifeedit mentions above, Siena is hilly and the bus and train stations are not convenient. For me, Florence makes more sense.

RonZ, that's a nice link.

Sorry, Tdudette that you had to exert yourself!

Do you have 3 days in total? Both cities are full of treasures, and depending on your interests, you might not be able to see everything in Florence in 3 days. If the 3 days include Sunday and/or Monday, it will be even harder in Florence as several of the main sights are not open every Sunday and/or Monday.

Can I ask where you are before and after these 3 days?

It's not fair to compare the art. Florence is swimming in it. My sister and I love both towns. We were just there this past spring. Florence is pretty flat, very easy to walk. Siena is a whole other landscape. There are parts of the city that will seriously challenge you, especially is you have any foot or leg ailment. If you don't know which turn to take when, you could find yourself facing hundreds of steps or a very steep hill. We were in Siena for 5 nights and we both lost weight by the time we left.

Florence has a greater variety of art, but Siena has the preserved head of Saint Catherine of Siena on display.

Dukey1, no need for sarcasm, it doesn't suit you.

My vote also goes to Florence with a day trip to Siena.

I've stayed in Florence from one to four nights at least four different times. Last trip to Italy we stayed in Siena for a full week renting an apartment on the Campo. We LOVED that. Sure there is a ton of wonderful art and sites in Florence that you can do in easy day trips from Siena, but we loved "living" in Siena for a week -- so different from Florence at night.

I also agree, Florence as a base and Siena as a day trip, this is what we did in May.

Another easy trip from Florence is Bologna.

If you have not been to either before, Florence has more "must see" sights for the first time visitor. If you only have three days, I would stay there.

I enjoy both places but fell in love with Sienna when my husband and I stayed there for three weeks while he was attending a class. It was a fun town to explore and we loved it. It is, however, not as convenient as Florence for easy day trips and connecting to other cities. If you have visited Florence before and want to experience something different, Sienna is a lovely option.

If you were to write down all the pros and cons, then Florence is a clear winner.It was the first place I visited in Italy, and fell in love with the place.

That said, Siena is my favourite city in Italy, possibly anywhere. It can get crowded at times, but there are some great "nooks and crannies" to explore.

While I understand the excesses of art in Florence, I'm trying to understand the charms of Florence over Siena in terms of overnight stays, restaurants, and all the rest. I've never seen that.

That's the way it goes. Florence is my favorite city in Italy. Others prefer Venice. I enjoy Siena (but enjoyed it much more about 15 years ago) but don't understand the appeal of Lucca. I like Milan which for others is skippable.

"Sorry, Tdudette that you had to exert yourself!"
____________________

Since you didn't know about my asthma situation (brushing my teeth made me breathless), I will give you the benefit of tongue in cheek and not ask you to eat your words.... =;

Oh, and do see Siena's duomo, janetsob.

Florence has a greater variety of art, but Siena has the preserved head of Saint Catherine of Siena on display.>>

plus the incorruptible communion wafers:

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/siena.html