Siena

Our private guide will meet clients at their hotel at 09.00am for our visit to Siena, the historical enemy of Florence.  Many battles were fought between the two cities. Only once did Siena defeat Florence, on 04 September 1260 in the Battle of Monteaperti. The rivalry is still strong as the Siennese say that the best thing that happened to Florence was the 1966 flood that almost drowned the entire city!

Siena is the medieval and gothic jewel of Tuscany, not having been affected in great manner by the Renaissance period.

Thanks to our official permits, we will drive through the pedestrian narrow, windy roads of the city to reach the beautiful recently renovated cathedral, right in the heart of town. Once we park the car, we will walk you through Main street and to one of the most breathtaking squares in Italy, Piazza del Campo. This is where the Palio Horse race is held; twice a year on July 2nd and on August 16th. This is the reason the people of Siena are so proud of their roots. Walk through the streets the days before the race and every citizen in the streets is dressed in medieval costume making it seem like they are part of an open air theatre production.  You will then have some free time until lunch time.

Monteriggioni

Until the XI century Monteriggioni was a stopover station  on the Francigena Road in Tuscany. Siena transformed Monteriggioni into an imposing Fortress to protect the northern boundary in the wars against the enemy, Florence.
Inside Monteriggioni, there were in the XIV century, over 150 families with about 600 inhabitants.

The wall was in existence since 1213 (see the headstone on the Romea Gate) until 1219 and then strengthened over the years (1260, 1279) until the year 1545. The massive wall of Monteriggioni is long, over 500 meters, and tall, twenty meters and reinforced by 14 square-based towers.  The Fortress protected the Siennese for over two hundred years from repeated Florentine attacks.