HISTORY: Settled in the time of the Etruscans, Siena flourished only after the Lombard occupation, starting with the 6th century, and for the next few hundreds years continued to develop into a prosperous trading center.
Beginning with the end of the 11th century, Siena became a Republic, which existed until the middle of the 16th century. The republic was then defeated by the rival Duchy of Florence, in alliance with the Spanish Crown, and was ceded by the Spanish King Felipe II to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, to which it belonged until the 19th century, when the unification of Italy occurred.
GEOGRAPHY: Located in the center of Tuscany, about 63 kilometers from Florence, 59 kilometers from Arezzo and 105 kilometers from Pisa, Siena stands in the middle of a vast hilly landscape between the Arbia river valley, the Elsa valley, the Merse valley, the Chianti hills, the Montagnola Senese and the Crete Senesi.
TRANSPORT: You can get to Siena by plane, arriving at the Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport or at the Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. There are regular trains and buses to and from Florence, and also from the near cities. A train ticket from Florence costs 9.30€ and the trip takes about one hour and half.
LANDMARKS: With a historic center that has been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany and, at the same time, one of the most visited cities in Italy. The main attractions are the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo di Siena), Piazza del Campo with Palazzo Pubblico and its tall Torre del Mangia, and Palazzo Salimbeni, but these are not all. In Siena, there is so much more to discover...
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Florence Airport | Pisa Airport | Train Schedule | Bus Schedule | Hotels in Siena
