Attractions: Fontebranda

This digital guide, created with the support of a local, offers a fun and curious way to explore Siena at your own pace. You will be able to visit the city’s most important monuments, including Piazza del Campo, the Duomo and the Basilica di San Domenico, along with other notable sights. As you move through the streets, the guide will share stories and local curiosities that bring Siena’s history and character to life. Along the way you will also discover local foods and learn about the Italian aperitivo tradition in authentic local restaurants, plus additional suggestions to deepen your experience of the city. The guide is designed to be a flexible companion, so you can take in highlights or linger where you please while following insights and recommendations from someone who knows the area.

You and your children will explore Siena while learning its history through fun anecdotes and legends from the Middle Ages. As you move through the streets, lively stories and sights will bring the city’s past to life in a way that suits all ages. Along the way you will reach the ancient castle and spot Siena’s symbol, the she-wolf, perched atop its column. You will learn about the 17 districts, known as the Contrade, and find the animals that represent each one. The guide will explain how the Contrade take part in the famous horse race held twice a year. You will also watch videos, find the stables where the horses sleep for four days, and see the small fountains hidden through the streets where the Sienese are baptised.

You will explore the medieval cityscapes of Siena, described by UNESCO as “the ideal embodiment of a medieval city.” As you move through its romantic hilly streets, you’ll feel the vibrant atmosphere and sense of rich culture that remain visible in the city’s architecture and public spaces. Along the way you’ll encounter a number of significant landmarks. Salimbeni Palace, the headquarters of the oldest bank in the world in continuous operation, will illustrate Siena’s long commercial history. You’ll pass the Sanctuary House of Saint Catherine, the birthplace of the influential Catholic saint, and the pristine 11th-century Fontebranda, whose sophisticated water system is noted for still being in use. The Gothic treasure of Siena Cathedral and its unfinished successor will give you a sense of the city’s religious and artistic ambitions. You’ll also see the elegant Loggia of Merchandise, once an important trading venue, and the charming Camp Square, recognised as one of Europe’s greatest medieval squares. Throughout the experience you’ll learn about Siena’s historical roles in commerce, religion and urban life, and you’ll gain a clearer sense of why the city is prized as a near-perfect example of a medieval urban landscape.