Siena, Italy Attractions

Siena's Piazza del Campo or il Campo translates to “The Field” in English and is regarded as one of Italy's most spectacular city squares. Dating to the 12th century, Piazza del Campo is still the cultural center of the city and worthy of a visit for its fine architecture and art, including copies of works by noted Siena sculptor Jacopo della Quercia. During the famed Palio horse race, the crowds spill out over the Piazza del Campo to get a glance of the race. To learn more about Piazza del Campo, visit www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/tuscany/review-100011.html.

Palazzo Pubblico & Torre del Mangia are two of the central features of Siena's Piazza del Campo. Palazzo Pubblico has been the town hall of Siena since the 14th century and is famous for a series of frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti from the 1330s, which is an allegory of good and bad government. Torre del Mangia is Siena's famed bell tower, which offers sweeping views of surrounding Siena. To learn more about the Palazzo Pubblico & Torre del Mangia, visit www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/tuscany/review-100009.html.

Siena's Duomo or cathedral is a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture. Begun in the late 12th century, the Cathedral was intended by its builders to be the world's largest cathedral. By 1380, the main façade of the Duomo had been completed, and the goal of making it the world's largest was abandoned. Today, works by Ghirlandaio, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo are still housed in the cathedral.

Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo in Siena is the museum of the Duomo. The home of works by many Sienese masters, perhaps the most famous work at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is Duccio's famous Maesta.

Pinacoteca Nazionale is Siena's national picture gallery and features five centuries of Sienese art. The Pinacoteca Nazionale displays the importance of Siena as a major center of Italian art and culture, especially in the middle part of the 1200s which includes works from the Master of Tressa, Duccio, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. To learn more about the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Siena, visit www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/tuscany/review-142051.html.

Castello di Grotti is one of Siena's most famous attractions and is known to date from the early 13th century. Occupying a hillside in southern Siena, the Castle of Grotti is surrounded by formal gardens that are both English and Italian in design and offers sweeping views of the Crete and the Val d'Orcia. To learn more, visit www.castellodigrotti.it/agriturismo-a-siena.htm.

The Tuscan Wine School offers the opportunity to learn about Italian wine in a series of short courses that are designed to be fun, fast-paced primers on Italian wines in general and Tuscan wines in particular. Topics cover a wide range of aspects of Tuscan wines like varietals, terroir and appellations, and the classes include tasting. The Tuscan Wine School also features wines for purchase and area winery information. To learn more, visit www.tuscanwineschool.com.