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1. Pinacoteca Nazionale
Siena's painting gallery houses the most representative collection of the Sienese school of art. It wouldn't be fair to label it a museum of second-rate...
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2. Santa Maria della Scala
The hospital across from the Duomo entrance cared for the infirm from the 800s up until the 1990s, when it began to be restructured as a museum...
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3. Opera della Metropolitana
Housed in the walled-up right aisle of the Duomo's abortive new nave, Siena's Duomo museum contains all the works removed from the facade for conservation...
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4. Palazzo Pubblico e Museo Civico
- This has been an ongoing work par excellence. It was begun at the start of the 14th Century but additions have been made almost up until the present... read more
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- Culture
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5. Piazza del Campo
- This is really the heart and soul of the city, where everything happened and continues to happen. The magnificent architecture of the square, architecture... read more
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- Landmarks
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6. St. Catherines Home (Casa di Santa Caterina)
- This was the house where St. Catherine of Siena actually lived. She was born as Catherine Benincasa in the building, although the space around... read more
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- Religious Sights
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7. Libreria Piccolomini
- The library is located inside the Duomo and is worthy of a visit. It was founded in 1495 by Pope Pius III to hold the collection of his uncle Enea... read more
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- Culture
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8. Baptistery (Battistero di San Giovanni)
- The baptistery itself dates from the end of the 14th Century though the oldest section of the building was begun at least 50 years earlier. The... read more
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- Religious Sights
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9. Il Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria)
- The Duomo as it is seen today stands on a plot of land that has always been dedicated to religion. Archaeological research has shown that there... read more
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- Religious Sights
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10. Chiesa di San Francesco
- Partly displaying Gothic architecture, this church in Siena has been extensively restored over the years. Having survived war attacks, this place... read more
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- Religious Sights
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The Best of NileGuide
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Like most of Italy, Siena is chock full of fascinating history, famous art and amazing food. The main center of town is the Piazza del Campo, which doubles as a racetrack twice a year during the Palio celebration. Siena is perhaps most famous for this bareback horserace. Il Palio has a history almost as long as the town itself. This chaotic event is held July 2 and Aug. 16. While this is not necessarily the best time to visit for tourists looking for a relaxing break, it is amazing for those wanting to experience the real heartbeat of Siena.
Siena's glory period was during the medieval ages, so you can expect to see a lot of pre-Renaissance art in the museums. One of the best places for this is the Pinacoteca, which features famous Sienese artwork from the medieval period.
The Piazza Publico, or town hall, is an 800-year-old structure that houses fascinating artwork (mainly frescoes) commissioned by the local government. From here you can access the 14th century Torre del Mangia, which offers some of the best bird's-eye views of Siena.
