lwallace

Does anyone have information on the best way to get to Sienna from Florence? I'm thinking of a private car but any recommendations and then on things to do in Sienna and places to eat?

wondering

just don't take the train- lots of wasted time

capo

If you're going to have a car already, then you might was well drive to Siena. You can park (for a charge, of course) in the stadium in the northwest, just outside of the old part of town.

platzer

The bus is quick and easy.

tmh

Maybe the tim eof year had something to do with it, but I don't recall wasted time with the trains.

The conducter introduced us to a couple of students going to class in Siena (one n in Italian) so they could practice their english. Once we arrived, they helped us find our hotel.

Lorac1127

The "best" way depends on what it is you want to do.

If you don't have an auto and want to get to Siena quickly, taking a train from Florence to Siena is easy and takes just about 1 1/2 hours.

If you do have an auto and if you want to go directly to Siena via the autostrada, it's about 47 miles and probably about 1 1/2 hours as well. Or you could have a delightful drive through Chianti country and stop in a hilltown or two or a winery which could take as long as you wish.

If you drive to Siena, some hotels do have parking. Ours did and it was inside the gates of the city...a real convenience.

If you do not want to drive, there are car services which will drive you directly there or give you a tour along the way. A family we met on our last trip used a driver through www.prestigerent.com and they seemed happy with him.

Hope this helps.

bobthenavigator

Platzer is right--the bus is easy.

rex

Though I cannot tell you this from direct experience, the advantage of bus over train often cited is that the bus takes you "up the hill" in to the walled city. The train leaves you "down the hill".

I tried a (way too rushed) day trip by car to Siena late one afternoon, and judged the access issues to be difficult (and it was so late in the day) that we turned around and gave up)) - - we were staying in a villa about 30 miles away. (Sadly, we assumed we could return another day - - and did not manage to).

Best wishes,

Rex

cmt

For this route, bus.

chicgeek

Just whatever you do, DON'T PARK INSIDE THE CITY! We made this mistake, thinking how lucky we were to get such a great spot since we were there early in the day! We got a ticket which cost us about $125 and much aggravation to get paid. There were no signs, so we didn't know we were in violation.

Henry

The best (fastest, cheapest, most convienent) way to get from Florence to Siena is by bus.
The reason is no direct train service. Siena from Florence goes to Empoli first (not on the way), additionally the buses leave you off in town while the train station is two kilometers outside of town.
Siena, what's there to do? Piazza del campo, one of the most beautiful and famous piazza in Italy, the seashell shaped piazza where the Palio is run. On the lower end of the campo is the town hall and tower. The Palazzo Pubblico contains many works of Sienese art; one of the more famous frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti shows the effects of good and bad government. The Torre di Mangia provides a breath-taking view of the city (don't try this if you have a weak heart or are claustrophobic). The Duomo (design most influenced by Giovanni Pisano) was built to impress and it does. Inside are an astonishing number of busts, statues, frescoes, and painting. The octagonal marble pulpit by Nicola Pisano is amazing, as are the works by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo. The Libreria Piccolomini contains many illuminated books and brilliant frescoes. The floor is covered by art but unfortunately this is covered by cardboard except during floorshows . Outside the Duomo you can see the Archbishop's palace, Spedale di Santa Marie delle Scale (1000 year old hospital contains frescoes that are huge), Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. There are palaces (palace of the Piccolomini, Logge del Papa, Loggia della Mercanzia, Palazzo Chigi-Saracini); churches (San Domenico-with the head of Saint Catherine, Basillica di San Francesco, Sant'Agostino) and enotece (the Enoteca Italia in the fortezza has more wines to try then you have time).
The market (by the fortezza) is on Wednesday mornings (about three hundred vendors providing basic goods to locals. Ceramics are sold all over but especially on the street between the Campo and Duomo.

But with all there is to do don't miss just strolling through a real town that looks like it hasn't changed in hundreds of years.