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Top 5 tips for 4 days in Siena, Tuscany
Although Siena is only the 12th largest city in Tuscany, with a population of just over 50,000, it is one of the most famous and visited. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing buildings dating as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries. Having already shared my tips about places to eat, today I am sharing my top 5 tips for 3-4 days in Siena. 1. Museums & Churches Ticketed One of the main sights in Siena is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, simply known as Duomo. The entry ticket costs 8 euros and it also gives you access to the Libreria…
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9 places for sweets, coffee and dinner in Siena
As I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, I recently travelled to Tuscany. As well as Florence, I also visited Siena, Lucca and San Gimignano. Although Siena is only the 12th largest city in Tuscany, with a population of just over 50,000, it is one of the most famous and visited. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing buildings dating as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries. Today, however, I am sharing my tips for 9 places for sweets, coffee and dinner in Siena. Pasticceria Nannini Conca d’Oro Established by Guido Nannini in 1910, the Pasticceria-café of the same name has almost become synonymous with Siena.…
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A day trip to Lucca, Tuscany
As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently travelled to Tuscany. Although I had been to Florence several times before, I had never previously ventured out of the Tuscan capital. As well as Firenze (as it’s called in Italian), I also visited Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca. Also known as “Città d’arte” (City of Art), the latter is famous for its intact Renaissance-era city walls which encircle the old town. Nowadays, Lucca has a population of about 89,000 and is the 7th most populous city in Tuscany. How to get to Lucca Lucca is easy to reach from Florence by train. The journey takes about an hour and a…
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A day trip to San Gimignano, Tuscany
I recently travelled to Tuscany. Although I had been to Florence several times before, I had never previously ventured out of the Tuscan capital. This time, I also visited Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano, as well as Firenze (as it’s called in Italian). The latter is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena. In fact, it was during my stay in Siena that I visited San Gimignano. Famous for its medieval architecture and home to 8,000 residents, San Gimignano is a popular destination for many tourists, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I stayed there for about 4 hours before I returned to Siena.…
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Summer in Florence: top 7 tips
I’ve recently shared my top tips for Rome, and then for Verona. Today, I’m sharing my top tips for another one of my favorite Italian cities and the capital of Tuscany: Florence. I’ve often thought that Firenze, as the Italians call it, embodies the concept of la dolce vita. I’ve been to Florence several times, and every time I enjoyed the city a little bit more. I remember strolling around the beautiful city center trying to plan my meal times, so that I could dine at as many restaurants as possible, and have as much gelato as possible between or after my meals (quite a task!). Although it’s been a…