Food Scene
fabulous refined innovative food with prices to match - book in advance and ask for a table on the ground floor room. NOTE: despite its name this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
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Osteria Le Logge
33 Via del Porrionefabulous refined innovative food with prices to match - book in advance and ask for a table on the ground floor room. NOTE: despite its name this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
great ice-cream around the corner from the house
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La Vecchia Latteria
10 Via S. Pietrogreat ice-cream around the corner from the house
family style food though prices have gone up recently
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Osteria Nonna Gina
2 Pian dei Mantellinifamily style food though prices have gone up recently
Osteria il Ghibellino
26 Via dei Pellegrinisimple menu, very dependable cooking
great wine selection and best Chianina (beef from special cattle grown in Tuscany) in town
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Ristorante Enoteca I Terzi
7 Via dei Terminigreat wine selection and best Chianina (beef from special cattle grown in Tuscany) in town
this used to be my favourite pizza place; it has got a bit too touristy but it is still dependable; book a table outside for a great view
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Il Pomodorino
13 Via Camporegiothis used to be my favourite pizza place; it has got a bit too touristy but it is still dependable; book a table outside for a great view
very old fashioned trattoria in the best possible sense; grandmother still at the stove, vegetables from own veg patch, good quality meat bought from top butcher, but all cooked very traditionally and very simply. Their speciality is fried food.
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Trattoria Da Dino
71 Casato di Sopravery old fashioned trattoria in the best possible sense; grandmother still at the stove, vegetables from own veg patch, good quality meat bought from top butcher, but all cooked very traditionally and very simply. Their speciality is fried food.
Trattoria I Barberi
10 Via Stalloreggipossibly the nicest of the restaurants on the same street of the flat
a lovely place where locals eat in their lunch break - their homemade pici are unmissable
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Bar Il Pulcino
91 Via dei Terminia lovely place where locals eat in their lunch break - their homemade pici are unmissable
great food, less formal and cheaper than Le Logge; gets really busy so booking is essential. NOTE: this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
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Salefino Wine and Cuisine
1 Via degli Umiliatigreat food, less formal and cheaper than Le Logge; gets really busy so booking is essential. NOTE: this is NOT your jolly Italian traditional trattoria; there are none in Italy that are genuine and not just run for tourists
A small place to be guided in tasting classic (and expensive) Italian Chianti by a very knowledgeable young sommelier
Il Battistero Siena - Residenza d'Epoca & Vendita Vini Pregiati
12 Piazza S. GiovanniA small place to be guided in tasting classic (and expensive) Italian Chianti by a very knowledgeable young sommelier
great modern take on traditional Tuscan food in unbeatable position in front of the magnificent Battistero
Il Battistero Siena
1 Piazza S. Giovannigreat modern take on traditional Tuscan food in unbeatable position in front of the magnificent Battistero
very informal place where locals usually outnumber tourists, my son's favourite - WARNING: service is traditional Tuscan: gruff to the point of rudeness; the staff is there to feed you (if you are patient) not to entertain you so you give them a tip
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Osteria Del Gatto
8 Via S. Marcovery informal place where locals usually outnumber tourists, my son's favourite - WARNING: service is traditional Tuscan: gruff to the point of rudeness; the staff is there to feed you (if you are patient) not to entertain you so you give them a tip
while not exactly in the most charming location, this is my son's favourite pizza place (do please note that pizza is NOT a specialty of Siena nor Tuscany)
Pizzeria Alle Scalette - Pizzeria Siena
18 Viale Curtatonewhile not exactly in the most charming location, this is my son's favourite pizza place (do please note that pizza is NOT a specialty of Siena nor Tuscany)
an intimate and sophisticated fish restaurant, expensive elaborate dishes, small portions, attentive and friendly service
Ristorante In Carrozza
an intimate and sophisticated fish restaurant, expensive elaborate dishes, small portions, attentive and friendly service
one of the oldest restaurants in Siena where my grandfather was taking me when I was little has been reinvented as a sophisticated restaurant (specialising in fish) with a team of knowledgeable and eager staff
Tre Cristi Enoteca Ristorante
1 Vicolo di Provenzanoone of the oldest restaurants in Siena where my grandfather was taking me when I was little has been reinvented as a sophisticated restaurant (specialising in fish) with a team of knowledgeable and eager staff
Macelleria da Roberto - traditional butcher who will prepare meat whichever way you want but also stocks excellent charcuterie and frozen fish
Via Stalloreggi
Macelleria da Roberto - traditional butcher who will prepare meat whichever way you want but also stocks excellent charcuterie and frozen fish
Arts & Culture
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena
29 Via S. Pietroone of the main museum in Siena
very interesting museum, situated in the ancient city hospital
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Santa Maria della Scala
1 Piazza del Duomovery interesting museum, situated in the ancient city hospital
a small, usually deserted museum that can only be visited with guided tours and offers a great insight into medieval Siena
Museo delle Tavolette di Biccherna
52 Banchi di Sottoa small, usually deserted museum that can only be visited with guided tours and offers a great insight into medieval Siena
a must for anyone interested in engineering and medieval history - the only relatively easy way to visit a small bottino (medieval underground water aqueduct) - booking strongly advised
Museo dell'acqua
a must for anyone interested in engineering and medieval history - the only relatively easy way to visit a small bottino (medieval underground water aqueduct) - booking strongly advised
Sightseeing
Siena's justly famous cathedral - go and see the outside at different times of the day to see how the light changes its facade. Enter at least once and pay extra for the Libreria Piccolomini
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Siena Cathedral
8 Piazza del DuomoSiena's justly famous cathedral - go and see the outside at different times of the day to see how the light changes its facade. Enter at least once and pay extra for the Libreria Piccolomini
Absolutely worth the great many stairs to the very top, but only if you are very fit, slim and don't mind heights
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Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia
1 Piazza del CampoAbsolutely worth the great many stairs to the very top, but only if you are very fit, slim and don't mind heights
worth the ticket price only for Duccio's Maesta' and the incredible view from the facciatone
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Mużew tal-Opera tal-Duomo
8 Piazza del Duomoworth the ticket price only for Duccio's Maesta' and the incredible view from the facciatone
the quirkiest museum, usually empty
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Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Accademia dei Fisiocritici
2 Piazzetta Silvio Giglithe quirkiest museum, usually empty
a hidden corner of Siena, with an unusual view of the city from the church steps
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Basilica dei Servi
Via Val di Montonea hidden corner of Siena, with an unusual view of the city from the church steps
a hidden green valley just behind the main square, with many private vegetable patches, plenty of space for children to run around and have a picnic (there is also a restaurant with irregular opening hours)
Orto dei Pecci
a hidden green valley just behind the main square, with many private vegetable patches, plenty of space for children to run around and have a picnic (there is also a restaurant with irregular opening hours)
the best of the small museums in the historical town centre, in a beautifully restored ancient town castle with caves and of course lots of history about the Palio - free guided tours that you will want to reward with a cash donation at the end (but no pressure to do so), even though guides are not fluent in foreign languages
Museo Contrada Priora della Civetta
41 Via Cecco Angiolierithe best of the small museums in the historical town centre, in a beautifully restored ancient town castle with caves and of course lots of history about the Palio - free guided tours that you will want to reward with a cash donation at the end (but no pressure to do so), even though guides are not fluent in foreign languages
a lovely tiny village, a miniature San Gimignano much closer to Siena and less overrun by tourists. You can walk along the walls, admire the little church, stroll the streets and do some great shopping (2 di 2 is highly recommended) all in leisurely half a day
Monteriggioni • borgo storico medievale
a lovely tiny village, a miniature San Gimignano much closer to Siena and less overrun by tourists. You can walk along the walls, admire the little church, stroll the streets and do some great shopping (2 di 2 is highly recommended) all in leisurely half a day
Drinks & Nightlife
a most unusual sophisticated place for tea and cake, as well as evening entertainment with live jazz music
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Tea Room - Siena
11 Via Porta Giustiziaa most unusual sophisticated place for tea and cake, as well as evening entertainment with live jazz music
tiny wine shop with friendly owner who does not try to sell you his most expensive wine but is interested in understanding what you like as well as widening your horizons
Cantina in Piazza
15 Via Stalloreggitiny wine shop with friendly owner who does not try to sell you his most expensive wine but is interested in understanding what you like as well as widening your horizons
a lovely outside cafe in a quiet courtyard with plenty of room inside if the weather is not nice - very atmospheric cocktails
ChigianArtCafè
89 Via di Cittàa lovely outside cafe in a quiet courtyard with plenty of room inside if the weather is not nice - very atmospheric cocktails
Essentials
beautiful ancient pharmacy with very knowledgeable staff - I trust their advice completely
Antica Farmacia Quattro Cantoni S.N.C.
4 Via S. Pietrobeautiful ancient pharmacy with very knowledgeable staff - I trust their advice completely
traditional bakery with the best traditional cakes, varying according to the season
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Bakery Il Magnifico srl
27 Via dei Pellegrinitraditional bakery with the best traditional cakes, varying according to the season
at number 18 you will find my fantastic greengrocer, Marco, a totally unassuming man with a passion for unearthing special produce but still very good value. Among his special finds are the pink tomatoes, not to be missed when in season
Via Tito Sarrocchi
Via Tito Sarrocchiat number 18 you will find my fantastic greengrocer, Marco, a totally unassuming man with a passion for unearthing special produce but still very good value. Among his special finds are the pink tomatoes, not to be missed when in season
The best food, especially the bread, pizza and ricciarelli from Menchetti and the Chianina meat
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Consorzio Agrario di Siena
9 Via PianigianiThe best food, especially the bread, pizza and ricciarelli from Menchetti and the Chianina meat
Shopping
Experience how traditional documents were created - Pier Giorgio will patiently explain and show you how he works in Italian and Jewish languages
Sator Print
20 Via StalloreggiExperience how traditional documents were created - Pier Giorgio will patiently explain and show you how he works in Italian and Jewish languages
wonderful vintage clothes and accessory shop - huge selection of high quality items, well worth a quiet browsing
Aloe & Wolf
23 Via del Porrionewonderful vintage clothes and accessory shop - huge selection of high quality items, well worth a quiet browsing
a lovely hat shop with a large selection of the exquisite traditional Tuscan brand Grevi
Momi Cappelli & Accessori Siena
a lovely hat shop with a large selection of the exquisite traditional Tuscan brand Grevi
go to the branch in the city centre at the Croce del Travaglio to experience the feel of a traditional medieval bottega - fabulous knives designed and made by them, expensive
Coltelleria Arrotino Di Siena
go to the branch in the city centre at the Croce del Travaglio to experience the feel of a traditional medieval bottega - fabulous knives designed and made by them, expensive
Jagannath Prema
great selection of hats, including Borsalino, the pricey traditional Italian brand
Casa della Pelle
153 Via Camolliaabsolutely adorable old owners who are still passionate about working with leather
in this narrow and atmospheric road near the Campo you will find the most extraordinary vintage shop (usually only open in the afternoon) which has unearthed many gems for me and my family - patience required to sift through things. Still worth a visit for the charming pensioners who staff it, the rock bottom prices (do bargain and have cash at hand as they do not have other payment methods) and the feel of a tufa cave.
Vicolo delle Scotte
in this narrow and atmospheric road near the Campo you will find the most extraordinary vintage shop (usually only open in the afternoon) which has unearthed many gems for me and my family - patience required to sift through things. Still worth a visit for the charming pensioners who staff it, the rock bottom prices (do bargain and have cash at hand as they do not have other payment methods) and the feel of a tufa cave.
Parks & Nature
the old Medici fortress has nice views from its high walls and a great place for walks and running
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Fortizza Medicea
Piazza Caduti delle Forze Armatethe old Medici fortress has nice views from its high walls and a great place for walks and running
perfect place for a picnic or just a stroll for peace and quiet
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Ristorante / pizzeria All'Orto de' Pecci
39 Via Porta Giustiziaperfect place for a picnic or just a stroll for peace and quiet
a hidden garden in the heart of the city - free access and always deserted - check the closing times when entering as you risk getting locked in in the evening
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Botanical Garden of the University of Siena
4 Via Pier Andrea Mattiolia hidden garden in the heart of the city - free access and always deserted - check the closing times when entering as you risk getting locked in in the evening