According to legend Siena was founded by Senio, the son of Remus one of the two founders of Rome. The origin for the name of Siena, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and in the world, is still a matter of research. Some attribute it to the Etruscan family of the Saina, some to the Roman family of the Saenii. It is certain that its development only took off in the Middle Ages, when it expanded towards three nucleuses which later became known as the "tertiary ": the original city center, San Martino and Camollia.
A Ghibelline city, Siena often crossed swords with the Florentine Guelfs in epic and cruel battles that forged the history of medieval Italy. One of the most famous battles was Montaperti on 4 September 1260, when the Sienese routed the Florentines. The city reached its peak of splendor in the 1300’s, when most of the civic monuments were built and the construction of the monumental new Duomo, or church, was attempted. In 1348, however, Siena was laid low by the Black Death, which like an earthquake exterminated three fifths of the population. After a period of obscurity and alternating domination by other powers, in 1559 Siena became part of the grand duchy of Tuscany, effectively losing its own independence.
With its brilliant Tuscan Gothic buildings, Siena is a jewel of world-wide fame. However, its surroundings also merit consideration. The natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside carries equal weight to the fascination of its perfectly-conserved medieval cities, for example San Gimignano Siena (with approx. 57000 inhabitants) is the capital of its province in Tuscany and lies 322 meters above sea level. It is located on three hills, from which it dominates the high plain between Chianti and the Crete hills. An important cultural and university center, Siena is an obligatory destination for tourism. It is famous for its exceptionally rich historical and artistic patrimony and for the beauty of its landscapes. The city is rich in commercial activity and handicrafts (wines, oils and other food products).

Beginning as an Etruscan center and Romanized in the Republican age, Siena became a military colony under Augustus. Conquered by the Lungobards in the 11th century, it was dominated by the temporal power of the bishops until the dominant lay class took over and the Councils were instituted. Its economic well being, based on commercial and banking activity, inspired the hostility of Florence, which in 1235 imposed on Siena a costly peace. Thanks to the establishment of a citizens’ council, the city soon flourished and once again achieved victory over Florence in the Battle of Montaperti (1260). The plague of 1348 caused serious economic and political crises, but in the same period the important characters Saint Catherine and Saint Bernard inspired a spiritual and artistic rebirth. After alternating Signorie and violent internal battles, in 1559 the treaty of Cateau Cambrésis granted the city to the Medici. Under the Lorena from the 18th century, Siena participated in the Risorgimento movement and in 1859 was the first Tuscan city annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.

By car
State road SS 222, from Florence
State road SS 223, from Grosseto
Highway A1, connecting Siena/Florence
Superhighway 429, Empoli-Viterbo

By train
Principal connections with Florence, Chiusi and Grosseto

By air
Florence’s Vespucci Airport is 87 km from Siena and is used by national and international airlines. (Info Tel. 055/30615)

The entire historic center is a pedestrian zone. There are no shuttle-bus services. One can rent bicycles at various points (in Via Massetana; Via del Romitorio; Via dei Garzoni).

Tourist information
APT, Center for Tourist Information and Services
Piazza del Campo, 56 – tel. 0577/280551

Useful numbers
Carabinieri (Military Police): 112
Emergencies: 113
Fire Department: 115
Urban Police: 0577 292550
Doctor on Call: 118
Highway Assistance: 116
Trenitalia (Italian Railways) Call Center: 0577/280115
Radio Taxi: 0577/49222

Siena’s gastronomy has preserved simple traditional recipes tied to local products that confer their own stamp compared to general Tuscan cooking. Among first dishes, I Pici, poor, homemade ancestors to spaghetti, flavored with a rich boar sauce, are outstanding, as are the rice with artichokes, spaghetti with tomato sauce, and the famous Ribollita (soup made from vegetables and bread, boiled several times). The second dishes are distinguished by the use of lots of garlic and aromatic herbs. Typical specialities are pheasant “Sienese style,” tripe with snails and chicken livers, and fritters with “zoccoli” (cubes of fried lard, or bacon). Rustic crostini (roasted bread, often with toppings) are served along with a traditional sausage made from boar and pecorino cheese. All these foods are accompanied by noted wines from the Sienese hills. The famous typical sweets reveal their ancient origins and oriental influences: ricciarelli, cavallucci, panpepati and the elaborate panforte (a kind of dense fruitcake), all made with spices, dried fruit, almond paste and honey.

Besides pastry shops and specialty food shops, which are hard to resist, Siena offers wine shops, with a vast selection of Tuscan and Italian wines, antique shops and shops of local artisans (fabrics and terra cotta).

Markets and Fairs
The collectors’ corner, Piazza del Mercato; third Sunday of the month.