My Siena - Gio's suggestions
Food Scene
fabulous refined innovative food with prices to match - book in advance and ask for a table on the ground floor room. NOTE: despite its name this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
45 persone del luogo consigliano
Osteria Le Logge
33 Via del Porrionefabulous refined innovative food with prices to match - book in advance and ask for a table on the ground floor room. NOTE: despite its name this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
La Vecchia Latteria
10 Via S. Pietrogreat ice-cream around the corner from the house
family style food though prices have gone up recently
8 persone del luogo consigliano
Osteria Nonna Gina
2 Pian dei Mantellinifamily style food though prices have gone up recently
Osteria il Ghibellino
26 Via dei Pellegrinisimple menu, very dependable cooking
great wine selection and best Chianina (beef from special cattle grown in Tuscany) in town
43 persone del luogo consigliano
Ristorante Enoteca I Terzi
7 Via dei Terminigreat wine selection and best Chianina (beef from special cattle grown in Tuscany) in town
this used to be my favourite pizza place; it has got a bit too touristy but it is still dependable; book a table outside for a great view
30 persone del luogo consigliano
Il Pomodorino
13 Via Camporegiothis used to be my favourite pizza place; it has got a bit too touristy but it is still dependable; book a table outside for a great view
very old fashioned trattoria in the best possible sense; grandmother still at the stove, vegetables from own veg patch, good quality meat bought from top butcher, but all cooked very traditionally and very simply. Their speciality is fried food.
14 persone del luogo consigliano
Trattoria Da Dino
71 Casato di Sopravery old fashioned trattoria in the best possible sense; grandmother still at the stove, vegetables from own veg patch, good quality meat bought from top butcher, but all cooked very traditionally and very simply. Their speciality is fried food.
Trattoria I Barberi
10 Via Stalloreggipossibly the nicest of the restaurants on the same street of the flat
a lovely place where locals eat in their lunch break - their homemade pici are unmissable
27 persone del luogo consigliano
Bar Il Pulcino
91 Via dei Terminia lovely place where locals eat in their lunch break - their homemade pici are unmissable
great food, less formal and cheaper than Le Logge; gets really busy so booking is essential. NOTE: this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
17 persone del luogo consigliano
Salefino Wine and Cuisine
1 Via degli Umiliatigreat food, less formal and cheaper than Le Logge; gets really busy so booking is essential. NOTE: this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
A small place to be guided in tasting classic (and expensive) Italian Chianti by a very knowledgeable young sommelier
Il Battistero Siena - Residenza d'Epoca & Vendita Vini Pregiati
12 Piazza S. GiovanniA small place to be guided in tasting classic (and expensive) Italian Chianti by a very knowledgeable young sommelier
great modern take on traditional Tuscan food in unbeatable position in front of the magnificent Battistero
Il Battistero Siena
1 Piazza S. Giovannigreat modern take on traditional Tuscan food in unbeatable position in front of the magnificent Battistero
very informal place where locals usually outnumber tourists, my son's favourite - WARNING: service is traditional Tuscan: gruff to the point of rudeness; the staff is there to feed you (if you are patient) not to entertain you so you give them a tip
9 persone del luogo consigliano
Osteria Del Gatto
8 Via S. Marcovery informal place where locals usually outnumber tourists, my son's favourite - WARNING: service is traditional Tuscan: gruff to the point of rudeness; the staff is there to feed you (if you are patient) not to entertain you so you give them a tip
while not exactly in the most charming location, this is my son's favourite pizza place (do please note that pizza is NOT a specialty of Siena nor Tuscany)
Pizzeria Alle Scalette - Pizzeria Siena
18 Viale Curtatonewhile not exactly in the most charming location, this is my son's favourite pizza place (do please note that pizza is NOT a specialty of Siena nor Tuscany)
Arts & Culture
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena
29 Via S. Pietroone of the main museum in Siena
very interesting museum, situated in the ancient city hospital
136 persone del luogo consigliano
Santa Maria della Scala
1 Piazza del Duomovery interesting museum, situated in the ancient city hospital
a small, usually deserted museum that can only be visited with guided tours and offers a great insight into medieval Siena
Museo delle Tavolette di Biccherna
52 Banchi di Sottoa small, usually deserted museum that can only be visited with guided tours and offers a great insight into medieval Siena
a must for anyone interested in engineering and medieval history - the only relatively easy way to visit a small bottino (medieval underground water aqueduct) - booking strongly advised
Reeser Str. 106, 46446 Emmerich am Rhein, Germania
a must for anyone interested in engineering and medieval history - the only relatively easy way to visit a small bottino (medieval underground water aqueduct) - booking strongly advised
Sightseeing
Siena's justly famous cathedral - go and see the outside at different times of the day to see how the light changes its facade. Enter at least once and pay extra for the Libreria Piccolomini
287 persone del luogo consigliano
Duomo di Siena
8 Piazza del DuomoSiena's justly famous cathedral - go and see the outside at different times of the day to see how the light changes its facade. Enter at least once and pay extra for the Libreria Piccolomini
Absolutely worth the great many stairs to the very top, but only if you are very fit, slim and don't mind heights
22 persone del luogo consigliano
Tower of Mangia
1 Piazza del CampoAbsolutely worth the great many stairs to the very top, but only if you are very fit, slim and don't mind heights
worth the ticket price only for Duccio's Maesta' and the incredible view from the facciatone
93 persone del luogo consigliano
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
8 Piazza del Duomoworth the ticket price only for Duccio's Maesta' and the incredible view from the facciatone
the quirkiest museum, usually empty
18 persone del luogo consigliano
Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Accademia dei Fisiocritici
2 Piazzetta Silvio Giglithe quirkiest museum, usually empty
a hidden corner of Siena, with an unusual view of the city from the church steps
8 persone del luogo consigliano
Basilica dei Servi
Via Val di Montonea hidden corner of Siena, with an unusual view of the city from the church steps
a hidden green valley just behind the main square, with many private vegetable patches, plenty of space for children to run around and have a picnic (there is also a restaurant with irregular opening hours)
Orto dei Pecci
a hidden green valley just behind the main square, with many private vegetable patches, plenty of space for children to run around and have a picnic (there is also a restaurant with irregular opening hours)
a lovely tiny village, a miniature San Gimignano much closer to Siena and less overrun by tourists. You can walk along the walls, admire the little church, stroll the streets and do some great shopping (2 di 2 is highly recommended) all in leisurely half a day
Monteriggioni
a lovely tiny village, a miniature San Gimignano much closer to Siena and less overrun by tourists. You can walk along the walls, admire the little church, stroll the streets and do some great shopping (2 di 2 is highly recommended) all in leisurely half a day
the best of the small museums in the historical town centre, in a beautifully restored ancient town castle with caves and of course lots of history about the Palio - free guided tours that you will want to reward with a cash donation at the end (but no pressure to do so), even though guides are not fluent in foreign languages
Museo Contrada Priora della Civetta
41 Via Cecco Angiolierithe best of the small museums in the historical town centre, in a beautifully restored ancient town castle with caves and of course lots of history about the Palio - free guided tours that you will want to reward with a cash donation at the end (but no pressure to do so), even though guides are not fluent in foreign languages
Drinks & Nightlife
a most unusual sophisticated place for tea and cake, as well as evening entertainment with live jazz music
42 persone del luogo consigliano
Tea Room - Siena
11 Via Porta Giustiziaa most unusual sophisticated place for tea and cake, as well as evening entertainment with live jazz music
tiny wine shop with friendly owner who does not try to sell you his most expensive wine but is interested in understanding what you like as well as widening your horizons
Cantina in Piazza
15 Via Stalloreggitiny wine shop with friendly owner who does not try to sell you his most expensive wine but is interested in understanding what you like as well as widening your horizons
Essentials
beautiful ancient pharmacy with very knowledgeable staff - I trust their advice completely
Antica Farmacia Quattro Cantoni S.N.C.
4 Via S. Pietrobeautiful ancient pharmacy with very knowledgeable staff - I trust their advice completely
traditional bakery with the best traditional cakes, varying according to the season
15 persone del luogo consigliano
Bakery Il Magnifico srl
27 Via dei Pellegrinitraditional bakery with the best traditional cakes, varying according to the season
at number 18 you will find my fantastic greengrocer, Marco, a totally unassuming man with a passion for unearthing special produce but still very good value. Among his special finds are the pink tomatoes, not to be missed when in season
Via Tito Sarrocchi
Via Tito Sarrocchiat number 18 you will find my fantastic greengrocer, Marco, a totally unassuming man with a passion for unearthing special produce but still very good value. Among his special finds are the pink tomatoes, not to be missed when in season
The best food, especially the bread, pizza and ricciarelli from Menchetti and the Chianina meat
39 persone del luogo consigliano
Consorzio Agrario di Siena
9 Via PianigianiThe best food, especially the bread, pizza and ricciarelli from Menchetti and the Chianina meat
Shopping
Experience how traditional documents were created - Pier Giorgio will patiently explain and show you how he works in Italian and Jewish languages
Sator Print
20 Via StalloreggiExperience how traditional documents were created - Pier Giorgio will patiently explain and show you how he works in Italian and Jewish languages
wonderful vintage clothes and accessory shop - huge selection of high quality items, well worth a quiet browsing
Aloe & Wolf
23 Via del Porrionewonderful vintage clothes and accessory shop - huge selection of high quality items, well worth a quiet browsing
Parks & Nature
the old Medici fortress has nice views from its high walls and a great place for walks and running
64 persone del luogo consigliano
Fortezza Medicea
Piazza Caduti delle Forze Armatethe old Medici fortress has nice views from its high walls and a great place for walks and running
perfect place for a picnic or just a stroll for peace and quiet
36 persone del luogo consigliano
Ristorante/Pizzeria All'Orto de' Pecci
39 Via Porta Giustiziaperfect place for a picnic or just a stroll for peace and quiet
a hidden garden in the heart of the city - free access and always deserted - check the closing times when entering as you risk getting locked in in the evening
40 persone del luogo consigliano
Botanical Garden of the University of Siena
4 Via Pier Andrea Mattiolia hidden garden in the heart of the city - free access and always deserted - check the closing times when entering as you risk getting locked in in the evening