Introduction to Siena

All medieval towers, piazzas and dreamy country views -- Siena is a miniature masterpiece of a city and Florence's age-old rival. The UNESCO-listed center brings you back to the Middle Ages at the Gothic Duomo and vast Piazza del Campo, the backdrop for the thunderous Palio horse race in summer. More than anything, the simple pleasures captivate you here -- eating rustic Tuscan fare in family-run osterie; sampling Chianti wines from nearby vineyards, and watching wistfully as sunset bathes the city the colors of a fresco painter's palette.

Things to Do

Strolling aimlessly in Siena is a joy, up alleys and staircases affording snapshot views over tiled rooftops and undulating countryside. The fan-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the redbrick Palazzo Pubblico's campanile rises 320 feet, is the city's medieval centerpiece. Contemplate the frescoes of Sienese master Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the Museo Civico and the Gothic Duomo's filigree stonework and black-and-white striped marble. Step inside to see the extravagantly gilded dome, frescoed Baptistery and the Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana's religious art treasures.

Nightlife and Entertainment

As Siena lights up, locals take their evening passeggiata (stroll). Join them for gelato or a glass of full-bodied Chianti on Piazza del Campo, Piazza del Mercato and Piazza del Sale. Cafes and cocktail bars attract a fashion-conscious crowd on Banchi di Sopra. For a younger, livelier scene, try the tiny pubs, live music bars and clubs on Via di Pantaneto and Via dei Termini. Choose among 1,500 Tuscan wines in Enoteca Italiana's atmospheric 16th-century vaults and inner courtyard.

Restaurants and Dining

A simple lunch in Siena: arugula and local pecorino drizzled with thick extra virgin olive oil, hand-rolled pici pasta in a garlicky sauce, accompanied by a good value Chianti. Find convivial osterie and alfresco trattorias on Via dei Rossi and Via del Casato di Sotto. Authentic Sienese fare from roast rabbit to fagioli all'uccelletto (white bean and sausage stew) is served in Via del Porrione's rustic-chic restaurants. Pop into Nannini for espresso and Siena's best panforte (fruit and nut cake).

Relaxation

Pack up local goodies like pecorino and fennel-infused finocchiona salami and head off into the rolling, cypress-studded Tuscan countryside for a picnic. Wild poppies stud the cornfields in springtime. To the north, the vineyards of Chianti Country invite lazy strolls, bike rides and wine tasting. It seems like time is standing still in sleepy, fairy-tale villages such as walled Monteriggioni and hilltop San Gimignano, whose 14 mismatched towers are visible from afar.