Discovery Italy

Siena
...a week-end in the famous tuscan city of the Palio hourse races, ancient medieval streets, magnificent art treasure and gastronomic discoveries

Duration: 4 days and 3 nights
Accommodation: 3 nights in Hotel*** or B&B with breakfast

Short description: you are going to walk and discover the wonderful surprises and the magical atmosphere that the charming tuscan city, Siena, offers with its good food…Piazza del Campo, Torre del Mangia, the magnificent Duomo, aristocratic palaces, good wines and delicious desserts such as cantucci and ricciarelli…
It is going to be an exciting week-end journey to discover the artistic, historic heritage and the gastronomic traditions that ranges from ancient times up to present days.
It is going to be an unforgettable trip!

Information:

• Trip to Siena
• Closest airport: Siena Ampugnano Airport
• Period: all year round
• Duration: 3 nights
• Flights: to book separately from our site. You can find both scheduled standard flights and low cost flights. You receive booking assistance on request
• Guided tour: on request

Price with arrival at Siena airport: 355 euro*
Price with arrival at other airports: 405 euro*
*The price may vary according to season
All prices include VAT
Breakfasts: all accomodation rates include a cooked or continental breakfast. Special dietary requirements need to be booked in advance

Included in the price:

• Accommodation: 3 nights in centrally located 3* Hotel or B & B in double room with breakfast (supplement for single room)
• Transfer to/from the airport
• Welcome drink
• 2 dinners in restaurants
• 2 wine tasting and local gastronomic products
• Telephone assistance
• Free entrance to museums and cultural events
• Extra days: Yes
• Supplement: If you want to stay in 4* Hotel

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TUSCANY AND SIENA
Description Tuscany: Tuscany is a region of Central Italy: it borders to the north with Emilia Romagna, to the east with Marches and Umbria, with Lazio to the south, to north-west for a short distance with Liguria and to the west is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea.is divided into the provinces of Florence (regional capital), Prato, Pisa, Lucca, Grosseto, Arezzo, Siena, Pistoia and Livorno Massa Carrara.
The name of this region comes from its ancient inhabitants, tusci, a name that was given to etruscans by romans.is famous worldwide for its art, history, beautiful landscapes and its typical products.the many art cities the most famous are: Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca, and some medieval villages such as San Gimignano and Montepulciano.special feature of this beautiful region is certainly the natural heritage and the great variety of landscapes: we can find here the beautiful green hills of Chianti and Maremma Park, mountain landscapes of the Apuan Alps or Abetone, the thermal parks of Chinciano and Montecatini Terme and finally the very famous beach resorts of Versilia, Argentario and the island of Elba.

Description Siena: Siena is one of the six provincial capitals of Tuscany and is located in the hilly region between the water sources of Arbia and Elsa, on three hills covered with vineyards and olive groves typical of Chianti’s countryside.
Siena is one of the most beautiful cities of Italy thanks to its artistic and cultural heritage that is also guaranteed by events such as the famous Palio horse race.

Cuisine and Wine: The Sienese cuisine reflects the features of the traditional Tuscan cuisine but with a use of aromatic herbs and garlic.
Some of the local dishes are: " crostini alla sienese”, Tuscan bread with sauce of chicken livers and anchovies, " scottiglia ", a very old recipe that was made when they had to use (for poverty reasons) remains of meat (all kinds of meat, including duck, pigeon, veal, beef, rabbit cooked with tomatoes, herbs and tuscan bread).
As for desserts, Siena has a long tradition: gingerbread with almonds, sugar, spices and candied fruit; " Ricciarelli "and "Cavalucci” "christmas cake made with honey, walnuts, almonds and candied fruit.
Siena is also well known for the production of several world-class wines: Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Gallo Nero, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vin Santo di Montepulciano…just to mention a few.

"PALIO RACES" IN SIENA
A horse race which lasts less than 2 minutes, is the subject of debate and competition all year round; this is Palio, the greatest traditional festival of Siena.
Siena is divided into seventeen contrade, http://www.aboutsiena.com/Palio-races-of-Siena/the-contrades-of-the-palio-of-Siena.html, or areas of the city.
Sienese people "belong" first to a contrada and then to the city. Each contrada competes against all the anothers in the Palio and rivalry and competition are an integral part of the preceding months before the event.
Ten contrade are selected for each race, each contrada is assigned a horse, and the horses compete in “la corsa of Piazza del Campo” while thousands of people assist the event as spectators and participants, transforming the main piazza into a teeming sea of people.
There are two palio races each summer: one on the 2nd of July, and the second on the 16 of August. The festivities start three days prior to each Palio, although the anticipation is already evident weeks before. During this time, there are being organized banquets, parades, blessing of the horses and celebrations of all kinds. During these days the people can participate to events such as the assigning of the horses to the ten contrade, the first, second, third and fourth trial and “Prova Generale”, followed by a dinner of “Prova Generale” for each contrada.
Contrada colors are worn by Sienese people, and music, singing and drumming can be heard on the streets at all times of the day or night.
On the day of Palio, spectators are crowded into the piazza from noon on, willing to bear sun, heat and sweat to witness this traditional event. The calmer people generally pay for seats situated around piazza’s border, which are usually sold out eight months in advance.
The square/piazza is sealed off minutes before the Palio starts and eventually (after a few false starts), the horses are off and it is over before the dust settles.
The winning contrada feasts and celebrates for weeks afterwards, with banquets, replays and many discussions while the losing contradas can only hope that with much preparation, plotting and luck, they will fare better in the following race.
A wonder for all who see it - Palio is a unique phenomenon that arouses much emotion, an event that Sienese people maintain proudly as an authentic tradition that is a once in a lifetime experience to witness and enjoy.

Day 1: MEDIEVAL SIENA: PIAZZA DEL CAMPO, THE BEAUTIFUL TOWER OF MANGIA / TORRE DEL MANGIA, PUBLIC PALACE Arrival at the Airport, transfer to 3* Hotel or B & B. Refreshing welcome drink and free time to relax or to begin familiarizing yourself with the enchanting atmosphere of Siena. During the late afternoon we recommend you to start exploring the medieval Siena in the heart of the city. The seashell shaped Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia and the beautiful Fonte Gaia can be your first tour in Siena. Evening: tasty traditional dishes and a glass of wine in one of the charming narrow streets around Piazza del Campo.

Day 2: THE MAGNIFICENT DUOMO CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI, MUSEUM OF THE METROPOLITAN WORK & CIVIL MUSEUM Wine tasting and local food After a breakfast with wonderful gastronomic products, including croissant and cappuccino, you continue the discovery of another pearls and fulcrums of the art life and history of Siena: the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the magnificent Cathedral with its distinctive facade of black and white stripes of marble, Archbishop's Palace with beautiful art works, Museum of the Metropolitan work preserving paintings and sculptures of incredible beauty. From the second floor of the museum you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city. Lunch at the restaurant “Le Lodges”. During the late afternoon we recommend you to continue your tour towards the Civic Museum with its beautiful saloons where there are exposed frescoes of famous painters Evening: Dinner and wine tasting in the old part of Siena.

Day 3: THE ANCIENT CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DELLA SCALA, THE ARISTOCRATIC PALACES TOLOMEI & SALIMBENI, BAROQUE CHURCHES, CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA CATERINA, SIENA’S PROTECTOR SAINT, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY FONTAIN: FONTE BRANDA Wine tasting and local gourmet products Wine tasting and gourmet local produce Your third morning of your trip in Siena starts again from Piazza del Duomo where you visit the National Archaeological Museum and then the church of Santa Maria della Scala with the beautiful statue of the resurrected Christ.Lunch at “Il Grattacielo”, a typical low-ceilinged restaurant and then you can enjoy a wine tasting and delicious cantucci at “Enoteca Dolci e Cantine”The afternoon will be dedicated to historic palaces, ancient churches, including St. Catherine's Church, the protector saint of Siena and the most beautiful fountain of the city: Fonte Branda. Evening: dinner in one of the oldest inns of the city and then a choice: free evening in a pub with live music or at “Chigiana Academy”, famous sienese concert hall in rococo' style

Day 4 : Departure to the Airport and Your Destination