You must see the winged horses; world masterpiece worth a visit by itself. Also some lovely…read moreceramics . Beautiful villa undergoing restoration. Horses are installed by themselves ( as deserved) as you would of seen them if you had approached the Etruscan temple to worship in 400 BC .

I had my first brunello ever 40 years ago that was their first vintage and fell in love with the…read morestyle. Visiting was a highlight for me made even better by my tasting with Lisa, who was very informative. She has been with Banfi for 24 years. I opted for the higher end tasting, which was the correct thing to do for me. Lisa also recommended a bird identification app produced at Cornell University that is quite comprehensive. That recommendation was prompted by a question about a flurry of activity of a species related to the swallows that used to dominate San Juan Capistrano.

Went here for a VIP tour. The tour start with a lunch in their taverna. The food was amazing. We…read morehad a full four course meal with a "cheese ball" starter, pasta as prima and veal as secondi with icrecream for desert. We have a great sampling of the vines from Banfi with the meal and great service. After the meal we went on a tour of the Banfi winery and ended up with a tasting. Our guide Paul did a fantastic job. This is a major brunello provider that goes back to 15th century with beautiful views. We loved the experience.

San Gim has much to offer travelers like Vernaccia di San Gimignano (a famous white wine),…read moreCinghiale (wild boar salami) and breathtaking views from one of its fourteen towers. Just admire how M.C. Escher saw the city -- http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/ital-bmp/LW96.jpg It also has a dark and sordid history as a hub for prosecuting and punishing those deemed heretics by the Roman Inquisition. Some of the common charges included practicing homosexuality, promiscuity, Protestantism and Judaism. The museum that houses the tools of the torment trade was an optional excursion during my tour but I'd have rather died than miss it. Here are some of the grisly gadgets I saw -- Guillotine. A true classic I've actually considered installing a small one in my kitchen, because I want to start the deliberate and systematic destruction of a particular group of plants...lettuce. When compared to arugula or radichetta, it's an inferior race of leafy green vegetable. Just thinking about it makes me want to hum my assassin's anthem, Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Iron Maiden. An 80's hair metal band or a torture device meant to look like a sculpture. You can host a dinner party and no one would know you're also doing your sacred duty of punishing the wicked. Don't worry the victim's screams won't spoil the meal, it's completely soundproof. Once the guests have left you can open one side and have a peek at the damage the steel-spiked interior has done. Unfortunately by then the accused may have passed out due to the intense claustrophobia the maiden of Nuremberg was designed to induce. Judas Cradle. Get busted for crimes against the church and you'll get placed on a wooden triangular apparatus named for Jesus' betrayer. If you were lucky on your chest or back, if your jailer was having a particularly bad day...you'd be forced to sit on it while the Judas Priests strapped heavy weights to your ankles and left gravity do their dirty work. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljq9cmVgFQ1qaod4yo1_500.jpg Pear of Anguish. A spreading caliper of pain that opens in four directions with a locking mechanism to hold it in place in the prisoner's mouth, vagina or rectum. It was often used in this fashion -- Inquisitor, "What do you say we take a break from all this thumb-screw business I'm famished. Would you like a pear?" Alleged Blasphemer, "Oh yes. I'm so nauseous and in terrible pain, mercy...please!" Inquisitor, "OK but since you're in cuffs I have to feed it to you, open real wide." http://www.kinkcraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/pear-03.jpg Obviously someone didn't know the unwritten rule, never accept anything from an executioner, they're known to have notoriously cruel senses of humor. The detainees at Gitmo don't know how good they've got it; I'll take barking German Shepherds and waterboarding any day over the tamest device of displeasure they keep in this joint. Admission is €12/7/5 for adults, children, and groups respectively which is double or triple the price of most institutions in Italy, but I doubt this museum has much philanthropy. You can't really have a press conference with a giant cardboard check that says "Torture Museum" on it when they're a so many kids with leukemia in the world. At the time I was ready to poke my own eyes out if a saw another damn fresco or architectural marvel and it was a welcome off the beaten path distraction. I recommend it and so does the Wu-Tang Clan. They stopped at St. Gimmy's Museo della Tortura during the first leg of their European tour, which inspired this skit -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYsAeqUzUc

We were walking through San Gimignano and saw this museum. We went in and purchased tickets. $34…read morefor 4 of us. You get two museums for the price of one. They are within walking distance. Plenty of old torture devices to see. Pretty cool if you are into medieval memorabilia. There is a cool basement cellar area. It's worth the trip while there. It's a quick walk through.

The Duomo di Siena is one of the most visually appealing cathedrals in Italy...a place where art…read moreand devotion converge in extraordinary harmony. Towering over Piazza del Duomo in Siena's historic center, the cathedral immediately commands attention with its distinctive dramatic blackandwhite striped marble façade, a color scheme that reflects the ancient symbols of the city itself. While we have seen many beautiful Italian cathedrals, this one is one of the most unique ones. Stepping inside the cathedral is awe-inspiring and completely breathtaking. Unlike many cathedrals whose beauty lies primarily on the exterior, Siena's Duomo interior is splendid and grand. The interior is lavishly decorated with striped marble columns, gilded details, sculptures, and frescoes that make the space feel more like a grand art gallery than a traditional church. While indelible photographs are forever etched in our minds, our tour guide discouraged us from taking photos inside the cathedral. One of the cathedral's greatest highlights is its marble inlaid floor, created over several centuries by dozens of artists. Often described as one of the most beautiful cathedral floors in the world, it features intricate biblical scenes and moral lessons created in marble mosaic. When you view such beauty, it feels bigger than yourself. Majestic!

We were lucky enough to see the cathedral in October when the floors were uncovered and it was…read moretruly a sight to see. Absolutely worth the visit and make sure to go to the top of the bell tower during your visit for a spectacular view and a great photo opportunity.

Santa Maria della Scala is far more than a museum.. It is located across from Siena Cathedral in…read morePiazza del Duomo, the former hospital has transformed into a sprawling cultural complex filled with art, architecture, and centuries of human stories. Rather than following a traditional museum layout, the space unfolds like a maze of grand halls, staircases, underground passages, and hidden chambers. The beautiful frescoed Pellegrinaio highlights the hospital's medieval role in caring for pilgrims and the sick, bringing scenes of compassion and community to life. Deeper below, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. Dimly lit tunnels, stone corridors, ancient cisterns, and crypt-like rooms create an immersive glimpse into the hospital's self-contained underground world. These subterranean spaces are among the museum's most fascinating features, revealing how the institution once functioned as a community. While the museum also houses Etruscan, Roman, and religious collections, the real attraction is the building itself. Its immense scale and maze-like layout can be interesting., More than viewing exhibits, visiting Santa Maria della Scala feels like walking through centuries of Siena's living memory.

An amazing example of form and function combined with art. The original hospital of Siena in use…read morefor hundreds of years and continually added to. Finally shuttered in 1995. Filled with art and galleries and churches and and and...amazing multi level complex that is a walk through the history of Siena. Don't miss out on this museum when you go to Siena.

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. :)