June 10-14, 2019

I took a painless 3-hour FlixBus from Rome Tiburtina Bus station to Siena (Stellino) for €9.99. The only hostel in the area, Siena Hostel Guidoriccio, canceled on me last minute (and didn’t give me a refund on my initial deposit), so I stayed at Alfredo II (€55.81/night). Very nice people there with very simple accommodations. Walkable from the bus station to 33 Passaggio Di Doccino, but I couldn’t figure it out the first day so I took a taxi (€12). 

Siena, a city in central Italy’s Tuscany region, is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. It’s small and you could see the major sights in a day. It’s fun to walk and get lost in thought with its walled centre, a beautiful preserved warren of dark lanes punctuated by Gothic palazzi, piazzas, and eye-catching churches. 

Here are some things to do:

• Check out the different districts’ flags and decorations around the city.
• Hang out in Piazza del Campo (aka Il Campo), where people literally sit and lie on the sloping scallop. Here you can see Palazzo Pubblico, a magnificent example of Sienese Gothic architecture. I made the harrowing climb up Torre del Mangia (€10), where they allow you only 15 minutes at the top, but the view is beautiful. You could also pay to go inside the Museo Civico if you like frescoes. 
• The Piazza del Duomo (€14) is a giant gothic masterpiece that took my breath away with its white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena, etiologically linked to black and white horses of the legendary city’s founders, Senius and Aschius.
• On the western edge of the walled city, the Chiesa di San Domenico is the last resting place of St Catherine’s head and thumb. Seriously, yes, you see her head. I was so creeped out at her head in a box, I donated money to try to will the image out of my head.
• Have gelato at Grom; it’s the best.
• This is not a town for remote working as cafes do not have wifi so make sure your hotel has a good space for you to work if you need to do that.
• This would be a nice place to take a cooking class, amateur or professional.
• Being in the Tuscany region, I definitely should have taken a wine tour, but didn’t arrange prior to have the hours off of work during the day.