Siena is a perennial favorite for visitors to Italy – a must-see, especially if you’re on a driving vacation in Tuscany. It’s a picture-book delight, with timeless streets, old town walls, and a pervasive medieval, gothic character first introduced in the 12th century.
The city’s center is the grand piazza, Il Campo, which hosts the Palio horse race over the summer months. With the red-brick Palazzo Pubblico and the medieval tower, Torre del Mangia, dominating the square, one glance will make you fall in love, and it’s easy to see why it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Must-see attractions in Siena
Siena’s gorgeous city landscape is testament to the talents of its medieval planners, who meticulously designed the city’s buildings and streets to hug the hillside on which the city was built.
Piazza del Campo is likely where you’ll visit first. It’s an enormous square, where you can sit back and have a coffee as you watch the world go by, before you embark from the gateway on a journey of discovery around the city’s plentiful supply of historic attractions.
If you’ve got a spring in your step, climb more than 500 steps to the top of the imposing Torre del Mangia, and enjoy stunning views of Siena and the surrounding countryside.
Next to the tower, you’ll find Museo Civico. The city’s most famous museum, it’s home to a stunning collection of medieval and Italian Renaissance paintings that take you on a journey through the centuries.
Arguably, the most beautiful building you'll come across is the towering Duomo of Siena. The 13th-century Romanesque cathedral is striking, sporting black and white tiger stripes across its facade. The gothic building is home to many religious treasures, including works by Donatello and Michelangelo, as well as frescoes by Pinturicchio.
Il Palio de Siena
The Palio has put Siena on the tourist map in recent times. The now-famous horse race takes place in the Campo every July and August. It features horses from each of the city’s 17 districts (or contradas) in fiercely competitive races, making for a magnificent spectacle. The Campo is transformed into a sand field for the occasion. Each contrada has its flag, waved with enthusiasm and an intense sense of pride. Choose a district to root for and cheer your horse to victory with the locals for a fun-filled afternoon.
Day trips from Siena
Renting a car in Siena means having immediate access to the tantalizing Tuscan countryside, with its rolling, green hills, vineyards and cypress-lined roads. A popular day trip from the city is a visit to Monteriggioni, a perfectly preserved Tuscan village complete with medieval walls. The fastest way to reach Monteriggioni is to travel along Via Cassia SS2 and exit at Monteriggioni.
San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sometimes called the Manhattan of the Middle Ages thanks to its 13th- and 14th-century towers. From Siena, follow signs toward Florence (Firenze) and join the Siena-Firenze freeway, exiting at Poggibonsi Nord, and follow signs to San Gimignano.
Driving in Tuscany is always a pleasure, and our rental vehicles are available in Siena and other major sites across the region. Whether you fancy traveling in the countryside or going on a culture trail in the city center, there’s no better way to start your vacation than getting behind the wheel of a rental car with Hertz.