Excursion to Siena and surroundings

Siena is a small town that normally would require a whole day to visit, but due to the large number of works of art, it is not sufficient for a week.
One of the richest cities in Italy in terms of artistic and architectural surprise you for its beauty and warmth of the people who live here. Popular tradition, which reaches its climax in days of the Palio di Siena Siena remains alive throughout the year animating with exhibitions, events and folkloristic events special and unique day of the people of Siena and the tourist.

Help us to Tuscany, we recommend 3 types of routes, designed to visit some of the most beautiful cities in one weekend.

Urban Route A

Starting from Piazza del Campo you should visit the Palazzo Comunale, where inside you can admire the various works of art preserved in the Museo Civico: not to be missed is the first work of Simone Martini, "The Majesty" painted between 1313 and 1315. Also in the Piazza del Campo, you can admire the famous Torre del Mangia, built between 1325 and 1348.
Then for Duomo, with its magnificent Baptistery, and then visit the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana, located beside the Cathedral. We advise you to approach your visit a typical dish of Sienese cuisine, accompanied by a good local wine.

Urban Route B

Starting from Piazza del Duomo to the church of Santa Maria della Scala through the food and wine shops, to enjoy quiet a good local product.
Then head to Palace Tolomei, the oldest city dating back to the thirteenth century, and through the Costa di Sant'Antonio, you can admire the splendid Sanctuary of Santa Caterina, the ancient home of Benincasa. From Via Camporegio soffermatevi to admire one of the most important basilicas of Siena: San Domenico, built between 1226 and 1265. A behind the Basilica of San Domenico is situated the ancient Branda Source: formerly used as source of supply for water in the city.
Relax and enjoy the local specialties in one of the restaurants in the area.

Urban Route C

We start from a visit to the Library of Intronati, founded in 1759 that today more than 400 thousand volumes of old honor. Then to Buonsignori Palace, home of the National Art Gallery, where you can admire the collection of the most important paintings of the city, dating from the end of the 700th
Remaining in the theme of painting and art, you can not leave out the Palace of Papesse, within which are housed exhibitions of contemporary art.
We then move on to the Market, Palazzo Piccolomini, built around the second half of 400, houses a collection of boards painted used as covers of the books of the Municipality. Continue for Logge of the Pope, made in 1462 by the sculptor Antonio Federighi architect. Finally, it concludes with an obligatory visit to the Church of Santa Maria di Provenzano, where you can admire numerous works of art.

Excursions into the Sienese: The Crete Senesi

We can advise a route within the tourism Crete Senesi, the discovery of mystical landscapes and natural immersed in the most picturesque villages that rise between the Sienese hills.
The first center of the area worth visiting is Asciano, a medieval village set on a hill overlooking the valley dell'Ombrone. To visit the Etruscan museum, built inside the church of S. Bernardino, in Corso Matteotti: you can admire the finds from mound of Mulinello and the graves of Poggiopinci.

Ecotourism

There are now many tourists seeking a different holiday, in total harmony with nature and respect for the environment. All in full and conscious environmental and socio-cultural context.

In the territory of Siena, it is easy to make a holiday of respect for the environment.

A little later, in Corso Matteotti stands the beautiful church of S. Augustine, built in Baroque style. Continue your visit to Piazza Fratelli Bandiera, where stands the church of S. Agata, built in Romanesque-Lombard style consisting of a crenellated bell tower and a striking octagonal cupola. Inside are preserved remarkable works of art dating from the sixteenth-seventeenth century.

To the left of the church stands the Museum of Sacred Art, containing significant paintings and sculptures, three-fifteenth, as the paintings by Taddeo di Bartolo, Ambrogio Lorenzetti of Siena and Barnabas. You can take a break to some of the highest quality restaurant to taste the typical Tuscan cuisine .
Continue our excursion towards Monteroni d'Arbia, about 16 km from Asciano, located on the right side of the river Arbia, where there is an interesting example of farm-fortress of the XII century consists of little remains of some medieval castle and a broken tower , all surrounded by a small village surrounded by walls Turri, not far from another village very interesting to visit: Lucignano d'Arbia.

Worth a visit even the small agricultural center Buonconvento, home of the beautiful church of SS. Peter and Paul, in Saccini Street, where there is a multiple of G. Pacchiarotto and Madonna di Matteo di Giovanni.
Now we head to the ceiling of the magnificent abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, founded by the Benedictines in the early fourteenth century. Immediately after a turreted building, across the street we reach the fifteenth century church, on his right there is access to the monastery. In the porch you can see the frescoes by Signorelli and Sodoma 36 scenes depicting the Life of S. Benedict. Inside the church is kept the most important: the inlaid and carved stalls of the choir, performed in 1505 by Brother John of Verona.

Some recommended restaurants

The Mencia

The thermae Rapolano

Continuing towards the right side of the valley dell'Ombrone, reach Rapolano Baths, where you can enjoy relaxing baths. The village still retains many of the walls, the towers and gates of the city. Just 1 km from the city are the ancient baths Querciolaia, baths of cold Armaiolo and establishment of S. James in Pelacane, where facilities are equipped for bathrooms, inhalation and mud, useful in the treatment of arthritis, dell'uricemia and intestinal diseases and skin diseases.