Tuscany - Italy - page 171

RELAXING IN THE PIAZZA DEL CAMPO This central plaza is among
Italy's finest. Sit with a gelato and watch mobs of tourists, street musicians, and
locals enjoying the scene.

ENJOYING THE ART IN THE MUSEO CIVICO The huge murals here

reflect the peak of Siena's military and artistic power.

CHECKING OUT A SPORTING EVENT The Sienese love their pro basket-

ball and up-and-coming soccer team.

JOINING THE MOBS IN THE PALIO Siena hosts famous midsummer
horse races. The weeks around the event are alive with many neighborhood con-
trada street parties.
LAY OF THE LAND
Siena is one of the few major tourist towns where it's more convenient to arrive
by bus than by train, as the train station is nearly 3.2km (2 miles) north of the
city center. If you do arrive by train (about a 2-hr. ride from Florence), most city
buses (nos. 3, 4, 7-9, 14, and 17) will take you to Piazza Matteotti, just north of
the walls. Long-haul bus line Tra-in ( % 0577-204228; www.trainspa.it) goes from
Florence to Siena in 75 to 95 minutes for € 6.50. The buses arrive in Piazze San
Domenico or Gramsci.
Siena is a fairly simple drive from Florence (64km/40 miles via the SS2), or
from Rome (193km/120 miles via the A1-326). Free parking can be had in the
lots north of the fortress, or on the city streets around it, but be sure to check signs
for street-cleaning days. It's about a 15-minute walk to central Siena from this
area. Parking on streets in the historical center is virtually impossible, although
some hotels have discounted rates at the closer pay lots.
Siena has a famously unhelpful tourist office (Piazza Duomo, 1; % 050-
560464; www.pisa.turismo.toscana.it; daily 9:30am-5pm). What, you want a
map? Yeah, right. They sell some tourist guides, but the selection is half that of
any bookshop in town. For what it's worth, the office is on the north side of the
piazza next to the Tower ticket office. The privately run “Info Casato Viaggi”
office (Via Casato di Sotto, 12, to the right of the palace; % 0577-46091; www.
sienaholiday.com), southeast of the Piazza del Campo, has better free information
and a helpful staff. They can also book tours, help you find a room, and sell you
a daily discount card for € 5. The private hotel booking office, Hotel Siena, on
the north edge of town (Piazza Madre Teresa di Calcutta, 2; % 0577-288084;
www.hotelsiena.com), is also helpful and good for a free map. A company called
Ecco Siena runs a good set of guided city tours at 3pm daily (except Sun), meet-
ing outside the San Domenico church. The 90-minute tour is only € 5 if you have
a coupon from one of the hotels in town that provide them; otherwise, it's

€

15.

ACCOMMODATIONS, BOTH STANDARD & NOT
€€ The key word is “simple” when it comes to the central and cheap Albergo
Hotel La Perla (Via delle Terme, 25; % 0577-226280; info@albergolaperla.191.
it). The building (a former palace, though you wouldn't know it to look at it) is
somewhat somber, and the rooms are very standard, with flowered bedspreads and