Piazza del Campo is the main public square and heart of Siena, Italy. Renowned for its distinctive…read moreshell shape and gently sloping brick surface, it is one of Europe's most celebrated medieval squares and a centerpiece of Siena's UNESCO‑listed historic center. The square is framed by elegant palaces, including the Palazzo Pubblico and its towering Torre del Mangia, and serves as a gathering place for daily life and civic events. Twice a year, it becomes the dramatic setting for the Palio di Siena, the city's historic horse race that brings Siena's neighborhoods together in a display of tradition and rivalry.

Siena was one of our stops on our all day bus tour through Tuscany and I'm so happy it was!…read more We grabbed aperitivos and enjoyed the sun set while people watching. It's such a vibrant city center. Really fun place to relax after a long day.

I have been to Siena twice. On my second trip, I visited for Palio. The day of the festivities, I…read moremade my way to Torre del Mangia to do some sightseeing. Located in Piazza del Campo, the center and heart of Siena, Torre del Mangia is one of the most prominent symbols of Siena. It's one of TripAdvisor's most popular attractions in Siena and for good reason. Snap a few pictures of the tower from the outside and then walk inside. It's free to check out the courtyard area where you'll be able to take a really cool photo of the tower from the interior. You'll know what I mean when you're there. After you're done checking out the courtyard, for a fee, you can buy a ticket to go up the tower and get some panoramic views of the city. If they happen to be sold out, you can also get some scenic views by checking out the Duomo. Torre del Mangia is a must visit while in Siena!

10/28/2013 My…read morehusband and I woke up early and went to the City Wall Tower as our first stop of the day. Good thing we went early in the morning, as we were able to get some sparkling nice views from the top. Once you climb the 330 steps to the top (the staircase is rather narrow in some areas, so they will ask you to check in your bags about 1-2 flights up). This is definitely one of the best views of Siena and Tuscany. Well worth the 8€ per person. We were able to stay at the top for a good 20-30 minutes to take some photos of the beautiful Siena landscape + look out into the hills of Tuscany. GORGEOUS!! We think the best time to go is in the morning when the sun is not out in full force, and the fog is leaving the hills...so you can get some clear photos. :) We loved our experience and definitely recommend it. We know of others who went to the top of the Duomo, so that's another option as well; but we didn't do that one since we already went to the top of the City Tower. Either way, I'm sure the views are great. :)

This was actually my favorite piazza in San Gimignano. It's the one with the old cistern, or well…read more There's always a bunch of people sitting on it as they do on the steps in other public squares. What's unusual is that this square is really in the shape of a triangle. You'll also see the Devil's Tower near the cistern. It has been said that the owner returned to find his tower taller than it was when he left it. Lol! That's kind of spooky. What I loved most about this medieval piazza is the famous gelato shop. It was a historical and tasty experience.

This is a lovely piazza/town square in the heart of Sam Gimignano. Admittedly, San Gimignano was…read moreone of my two favorite places visited during my two weeks in Tuscany and this square was absolutely lovely. There is an old cistern (hence its name) in the square along with lots of lovely shops, including a pair of dueling gelato shops (one of which is often featured on travel shows). There are plenty of opportunities for getting your perfect Instagrammable moments here as well.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's a historical medieval village that once had 72…read moretowers (now there's 14). Building a taller tower than your neighbor was common in these times. It was a symbol of wealth, status, and power. In some ways, this idealogy is very much like it is today. There's even a pair of twin towers that looks like it may have been the architect's inspiration for the World Trade Center. No one knows for sure. You'll learn about the story of Santa Fina in the chapel at the cathedral. I took a virtual walk through a video guide even before boarding the plane to Italy. It was beautiful! In reality, it turned out to be more of a tourist attraction. Was it a trap? It depends on how much time you are given to explore it. I'll explain later. My impression wasn't as glamorous as my fellow Yelpers. It all started with the public restrooms. People will tell you that paying a euro to use the restroom is normal in Italy. Only people who are not well-travelled will say this. It's absolutely NOT the norm! The situation in San Gimignano is the worse case scenario. I don't mind paying a human attendant who is maintaining the restrooms. That's never an issue for me. These are machines built to accept money (or credit card if the scanner is working) to gain admission into the restroom using a turnstile. Can you imagine using one of these with a full bladder? The person or organization who decided that it was a good idea to use this demeaning restroom design should be asked one simple question. Would you force your grandmother to do this? I mean, really! It's shameful! I would have been better off squatting over a seatless public toilet. To make matters worse, you'll need to touch the rusted turnstile on your way out after washing your hands. It doesn't move easily. It's unsanitary. I just don't like to touch things like that after the pandemic. I was never infected with Covid, and I was not going to let this germy public bathroom defeat me. Just bring lots of hand sanitizer. There's a lot of tourist trappy things like the torture museums. Don't waste any time or money on that. They have them in all the little medieval villages in Tuscany. I just have some advice for anyone booking a guided tour group from Livorno that includes this village and a winery. Be aware that you may have less than an hour to explore it. I recommend having a private guide, your own transportation, or simply staying in a B&B near the village. I would have loved to have more time (at least 4 hours with lunch) in the village versus the winery. Not to take away anything from the winery estate (Tenuta Torciano) because it was awesome. You must try the region's Vernaccia & Chianti wine. It's incredible! Oh, and definitely visit Piazza della Cisterna. You don't want to miss Gelateria Dondoli, and its famous Crema di Sant Fina gelato.

There are lots of historical villages in the Chianti region, and San Gimignano is definitely not…read moreone to overlook. You could spend hours getting lost in the winding streets. There are a plethora of shops and restaurants, selling everything from gifts and clothing to meats and cheese to gelato and pizza. If you are looking for some climbing and adventure there is a large tower that you can climb. We held off because it was a super hot day, but apparently it's a great way to get the best views of the area. We also had some of the best gelato of our trip here. I'm forgetting the name of the shop, but it's right in the center square and you'll know it based off the line. The fig was unforgettable, and I didn't see fig gelato anywhere else during my trip to Italy so that felt unique. Be mindful of parking and walking -- we had to park pretty far away and it was a hefty walk into the center of town. Parking is very limited in the area, and the town is very hilly. Be sure to wear comfy shoes. The brick buildings are gorgeous and there are so many unexpected charming details like ivy covered buildings, brightly colored doors and narrow cobblestone alleyways. It's a great spot to snap a few highly grammable pics! For sure worth a visit.

Along the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the city's most noteworthy landmarks, lined with…read moreshops and rich in history. The Ponte Vecchio ("old bridge" in Italian) is a working part of Florence's daily activities. Crossing the bridge for the first time, what stands out immediately is how unusual it is. It feels like a narrow street or marketplace suspended above the water, sprinkled with small shops. This distinctive layout with shops built directly onto the structure has existed for centuries and gives the Ponte Vecchio a special character unlike any other bridge in Europe. The current bridge dates to the mid-14th century, rebuilt in 1345 after earlier versions were destroyed by floods. Over time, it has evolved from a practical commercial crossing into a symbol of Florence's artistic and cultural identity. Originally filled with butchers and traders, it was transformed during the Renaissance when the Medici decreed that only goldsmiths and jewelers could operate here. Today, virtually every retail type is featured.

If you came to Ponte Vecchio without any context, it's pretty underwhelming. However, upon further…read moreAI deep dive, you'll learn it's the oldest bridge in Florence (1345) that survived WWII and once had butchers and fishmongers along the bridge, but were later replaced by goldsmiths and jewelers. While the original medieval vendors no longer exist, the bridge is still lined with goldsmiths and jewelry shops today. For the best experience, don't just walk across the bridge, take it in from different angles. My favorite view is from the riverbanks, but many prefer seeing it from a distance at Ponte Santa Trinita.

It's the main gateway into the medieval village of San Gimignano, and not to be confused with the…read morefamous one of the same name in Rome. It's located in front of the Martyrs of Montemaggio Square where there's a war memorial to the fallen of San Gimignano. There's also a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside as you walk up to this impressive looking gateway. There are many views like that one as you walk along the walls of this ancient town. However, you'll need to overlook the touristy parts of it so that you can truly appreciate and enjoy it.

This town is a MUST stop if going wine tasting through the Tuscan region. Beautiful views of the…read moreTuscan valley from the top with a fantastic shops and restaurants. We got to experience someone reading some beautiful Italian poetry on the top of the hill who we found out is typically doing this daily.

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Truly the best…read morelocation to stay in Tuscany, with superior service, fabulous rooms and great food & drink. All in a setting that is equal parts awe inspiring (we're in a castle!), authentically Italian (wine, pasta, etc) and ridiculous relaxing (enjoy the sunset overlooking the forest while the birds fly overhead). The entire staff were so kind and helpful, accommodating early check in, and even going so far as to pack us breakfast bags when we needed to make an early start to get to Florence. Oh, and the ROOM. So gorgeous, well appointed two bedroom apartment with kitchen and two full baths--the primary with separate tub room and a double shower. All 1 hour(ish) from everywhere you want to visit in Tuscany. Special thanks to Deanna and Lucia for being amazing!

We stayed 3 days here but I wish it was longer. First off, if you like it very quiet this IS your…read moreplace. The buildings are very old, the walls thick- there isn't a sound at night at all - none! The staff is excellent and they are helpful in every way. The restaurant is outstanding with prices that are reasonable given the high quality. Add to that the history of the facility is just incredible. We hiked some of the trails - if you do that hiking boots are recommended. Trails are rough and at times steep. Things to do - We spent a day in Tuscany exploring numerous vineyards that are close by. We also spent a day exploring several villages, an underground wine cellar, enjoyed great wine and bought some excellent cheese. One caveat: you'll need to climb stairs and somewhat steep walkways if your going to stay here. Your legs will thank you afterwards. I'd highly recommend this place! It's just plain awesome! We loved it.

The Castle of Monteriggioni is one of Tuscany's most memorable and well preserved medieval…read morefortresses, on a hill between Siena and Colle di Val d'Elsa. Built by the Republic of Siena in the early 13th century, its circular walls and fourteen towers form a distinctive shape that merges naturally with the surrounding countryside and according to our tour guide, was referenced by Dante in the Divine Comedy. Originally constructed to defend Siena along the Via Cassia, the castle has remained remarkably intact for more than 800 years. Passing through its gates reveals a small, authentic village centered on a quiet square and the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Assunta, creating the feeling of stepping back into the Middle Ages. There are cute little shops plastered on the pathway including tourist favorites like jewelry, clothing and food items. Tourists were walking along portions of the medieval walls for sweeping views over vineyards and olive groves, gaining a clear sense of the fortress's strategic design. Though once military fortress, Monteriggioni today feels peaceful, warm and welcoming while also being a beacon of history. Spending the morning Monteriggioni was delightful...

We did the tour to learn the history of their winery, wine tasting and brunch. Overall, reasonably…read morepriced! The wine was good and not acidic for my stomach. (I am not a wine expert) and the food was even better! ( I . am a. Foodie.) The owner and staff was pleasant as well. The dessert was delicious too! Overall, I can see myself coming back with friends. The family owns the enclosed town just above the winery.