Siena - Italy

Did someone say let's spend a week in Tuscany? Yes, please! We took an easy flight from Palermo, Sicily, to Pisa to pick up our hire car from Sixt for the week. The best advice we were given was to hire a car when visiting Tuscany, not to take the risk and rely on public or private transport, and our trusty travel advisers were spot on. You must have your own wheels if you want to get lost in Tuscany's rolling hills and vines.

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy

Our first Tuscan destination was a 90-minute drive from Pisa to Siena, where we were reunited with our very dear clients and friends from NSW, Australia. The family vacay over the past few months has been an extensive tour of Italy, visiting family and sightseeing, and we were lucky enough to reserve a few days in their hectic schedule whilst in Siena.

As you approach Siena, you drive through these tiny, tight, winding roads bordered by old brick stone walls, and then Siena, one of Italy's famed medieval cities, appears. Siena is like stepping back in time with its medieval architecture, and the city is tucked away behind the gates, sitting over three hills with its heart the vast Piazza del Campo, one of the best squares we have experienced, also known worldwide for the famous Palio run (google this, it's so cool), a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer, gutted we had missed it by a few weeks. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace.

Arriving in Siena, Italy

With all walled cities, you generally need to park on the perimeter just outside the walls, so we secured our little mini in the car park for a few days (costing €70 for 43 hours). We set out on foot, congratulating ourselves for travelling with check-in bags only for four weeks! There are 7 Unesco World Heritage sites in Tuscany, and the Siena historic centre is one of them.

We quickly settled into our charming Airbnb, perfectly nestled just minutes from the iconic Piazza del Campo, while offering breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the city and surrounding hills—it truly felt like the best of both worlds. The modern comfort of our cosy stay, combined with a magical rooftop overlooking Siena, paired perfectly with the authentic medieval atmosphere that greeted us right at our doorstep. A short climb up a couple of easy flights of stairs led us to a beautifully furnished, vibrant home filled with natural light, every detail curated to make the space warm and inviting.

Once we were settled, it was time to meet up with our friends and the fam for pre-dinner drinks in the piazza, which was ideal for introducing us to Siena and its infectious energy. It's also home to a university, making it a vibrant city of young people.

It was an evening of sharing travel stories, laughter, moments and incredible Italian vino and food at Enoteca I Terzi. All feeling blessed, we shared this adventure and created magical memories in beautiful Siena in Tuscany.

With two nights in Siena, we had a full day to explore this gothic, enchanting city, so we were up early, hitting the cobblestoned streets for coffee. We found a local coffee shop, Meet Life Cafe, with the most welcoming owner; of course, the coffee was excellent. We were back within the hour for the next one. This place soon became our go-to cafe for the next few days, and the owner loved teaching us some Italiano, too.

We spent the afternoon enjoying a casual lunch in a quaint bistro called Du Cose da Berna, owned by a lovely young couple with their little girl insisting on helping them out by carrying plates to customers, and it was adorable! The restaurant was everything you had hoped for: fresh pasta cooked al dente with uncomplicated ingredients, a fantastic vino selection, and, it goes without saying, everyone's favourite dessert - Tiramisu!

We followed this with a couple of local Amaros in the piazza, savouring the atmosphere and beautiful company, and making plans for a farewell lunch in a nearby Tuscan village the next day.

Siena is one for the must-visit list on your Italian adventures through the rolling hills of Tuscany. We also recommend staying for a night or two, as you capture the essence once all the day-trippers have moved on and experience the authenticity of the city and the locals' warmth.

Date visited: 13 September 2023