Siena Guided Tours
Another way to see a few of the main attractions of Siena is this
guided tour. It begins everyday at 4pm, though tickets must be bought
by 3:30pm from the APT office at the Piazza Il Campo, 56. The tour
includes the Museo Civico, the Duomo, and the Ospedale di Santa
Maria della Scala. The tour costs £30,000 per person.
For more information, or to reserve a tour, call (39)-(0577)-280-551,
or fax (39)-(0577)-270-676.
Enoteca Italiana Nazionale
Some of the best Italian wines are produced near Siena, including
Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti, this Enoteca Italiana isthe
place to do some serious Italian wine tasting. Home to a permanent
collection, not of art, but of wines! This exhibition, in addition
to the wines produced near Siena, offers a very comprehensive variety
of Italian wines that one can taste and buy either by the glass
or the bottle. The Enoteca, located at Fortezza Medicea is open
Tuesday - Saturday from 12pm - 1am, Monday from 12pm - 8PM, and
is closed on Sunday. You can e-mail with questions regarding specific
wines offered at enoteca-italiana-siena@sienanet.it. The entrance
fee inside is free, and you pay per glass for the wines you would
like to taste.
The Palio of Siena
For a 90 second horse race around the Piazza Il Campo, Siena
goes totally wild. This exciting event explodes and takes over the
town every year on July 2nd and August 16th. The race is exhilirating
and draws thousands of tourists every year.
| The first Palio was held in 1283; the actual
palio is a banner that is rewarded to the winner of the race.
The competitors are 10 of the 17 neighborhoods or contrade.
These contrade are represented by a horse and its rider. In
this exciting event there is only one rule: riders can not touch
the reigns of the other competitors' horses. A contrada's horse
is still eligible to win, even if it has lost its rider! The
contrade are competitive and proud; it is said that if you ask
a Sienese where he is from, he will tell you the contrada from
which he hails. |
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Walking through Siena's streets, you can
look up and see the symbols of the different districts, the
goose, the wolf, the dolphin etc. There are also fountains in
the shape of the various mascots. See the APT office in Siena
about purchsing a spot in a viewing stand. Otherwise arrive
early to find a good vantage point among the packed-tight crowd.
Also of interest are the contrade museums. Below is a list of
10 of the 17 Museums of the Contrade of Siena, other six are
closed for restoration. They are open upon request and visits
should be booked at least a week in advance. |
*Aquila (Eagle) - Casato di Sotto, Tel. (0577) 288-086 *Chiocciola
(Snail) - Via San Marco 37, Tel. (0577) 45-455 *Civetta (Owl) -
Piazzetta del Castellare, Tel. (0577) 285-505
*Drago (Dragon) - Piazza Matteotti 19, Tel. (0577) 40-575 *Giraffa
(Giraffe) - Via delle Vergini 18, Tel. (0577) 287-091
*Istrice (Porcupine) - Via Camollia 87, Tel. (0577) 43-330 *Leocorno
(Unicorn) - Via di Follonica 15, Tel. (0577) 49-298
*Lupa (Wolf) - Via Vallerozzi 71/73, Tel. (0577) 270-777 *Nicchio
(Shell) - Via dei Pispini 68, Tel. (0577) 49-600 *Oca (Goose) -
Vicolo del Tiratoio 11, Tel./Fax (0577) 285-413
*Valdimontone (Ram) - Via Valdimontone 6, Tel. (0577) 222-590
