skikat9

I'm taking a group of 40 to Italy in Jan. 2005. We will have 3 days in Florence and some of the group have asked about day trips out of town. My travel agent has recommended Siena (over Pisa, which several of the group have asked for). Is it worthwhile leaving Florence for? What's the best way to get there, travel time and how expensive?
Thanks for any info you can give!!

CarlosSandoval

I think you might want to do a bit more of homework....check out frommers, fodors, tripadvisor, go and read books about siena. From Florence you can either take the bus or train, it's about 1 1/2 or so, and not it's not expensive as far as the transportation goes!

In my opinion, there isn't much to see in Pisa, other than the leading tower and il duomo, they are all together, and you can do a half day trip there from Florence.

ira

Hi ski,

There are many who think that Siena is worthwhile.

The best way, I think, is to take the SITA bus. In Florence the station is on Via S. C. de Siena, about 1 blk from the train staton.

Tilets are 13E RT. It takes about an hour.

Schedules are at
http://www.sita-on-line.it

Click "Toscana"
Click "Orari"
Click the top "Chianti e Val di Pesa"
You want bus no. 350

swalter518

Siena is highly worth it-it was our favorite stop last October. We enjoyed it more than Florence. We drove but there were only 2 of us, not 40. It took less than 2 hours drive time from Florence. It was not any more expensive than Florence,and depending on what you are comparing, may be less so. The Duomo alone is worth the visit, not to mention Il Campo.

DiAblo

I'm afraid you have to forget Siena. an artist friend just told me it's burnt.

halfpint

DiAblo, unless you are into oil painting, one just might NOT GET your comment, ha ha. Good one. halfpint

swalter518

Diablo-HAHAHA That was my favorite Crayola color!

DonnaD44

By all means go to Siena and stay at least a day. There are so many beautiful places to eat, watch people and shop, and Siena is relatively stress free compared to Florence. Beyond the Campo di Miracoli with its leaning tower, there is nothing much to see in Pisa.

Henry

skikat9,
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.
Click on my name and you can find my trip report that included Siena.

Patrick

Ah, Diablo, but don't forget Siena also has a rather racy "adult" side to it. I was told it is raw!

skikat9

Thanks all for the info, particularly Henry. I'll be printing out your reply to take with me on the trip. I booked the day trip this a.m.-a short stop in Pisa, then onto Siena for the remainder of the day.
And, yes, Diablo I got your joke-funny-yes, informative-uhhh, no! (I'm a starving artist when I'm not a volunteer trip leader.)

travelgrl11

Siena is wonderful and definitely worth a visit from Florence. As with the other comments, skip Pisa.

Weadles

I may come across as uncultured and crass, but for me a half-day trip to Siena was more than enough. Maybe it's because I don't know very much about Renaissance history or art. SORRY!

I much preferred ( dare I say it?) Pisa! I know it's a grand cliche, but there was nothing like standing next to the tower that I'd seen for years in history books and postcards from others.

Just my honest opinion...

LindaandErik

Siena is wonderful...full of character, a nice contrast to Florence. Back in medieval times, the cities were rivals. But, if I were in your shoes I'd rent a car and drive to the southern part of Tuscany and visit some of the quaint and scenic wine villages: Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano. You can also visit the wineries and do some wine tasting, and walk from one village to the next on old Roman roads. Positively the most idyllic place we have been. The accomodations and restaurants are wonderful, and quite inexpensive.

Jean

With a group that large, I'd explore the possibility of arranging a bus and guide to take you to San Gimignano and Siena for an all-day tour.

Yes, there is SITA service from the Florence train station, but your group might not all make it on one bus. If buses are added to accommodate, you'll still start out in two (or three?) groups.

We visited both towns on a bus tour and very much enjoyed the guide's narrative as we rolled along. When we arrived in Siena, there was a local guide to give us a walking tour. She was terrific and told us many things about Siena that aren't in the guide books. We arranged our tour through the American Express office near the Duomo.

skikat9

Now the latest...to take a day trip from Florence to Pisa (just to see the tower then back on the bus), then on to Siena-$139 a person!! Needless to say most of my group balked at that price. So, now a new question for you all...if a few of us just want to jump on the train or bus to do the same itinerary, is it possible? Which do you recommend? Bus or train? Wonder if we'll be able to fit both in with travel time? Many questions but I know you Fodorites have the answers. You always do!!!

Weadles

I'm not very surprised at the price since it involves about 3 hours of driving in opposite directions, to say nothing of the waiting time for your group at Pisa and in Siena.

Your best bet would be to take the train from Florence to Siena, which is about an hour and a half trip. Pisa's more problematic ( it's only about an hour on the train from Florence) because you would need to arrange transportation from the train station to the tower and back. I'm sure other posters will have some suggestions on how to do that!

Good luck!

Ozarksbill

Agree with Henry and Jean...Siena a nice place and for such a group a bus would be a good bet...which is what we did.
Bill in Missouri [email protected]