Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo
5
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Siena's main square is the site of the famous Palio horse races that take place in July and August.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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- LostInTimePittsburgh, Pennsylvania23,392 contributionsOld squareThis is the main square of the town. It has old buildings, a giant tower, and a lot of space. Horse races are held here in the summer which it seems like is a huge event. The square is pretty cool to see as it probably hasn’t changed much in centuries.Visited February 2024Travelled on businessWritten 24 February 2024
- Xamot TomaxFort Wayne, Indiana7,216 contributionsArea untouched by timeThis is the main square of Siena. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it would be. Granted, I unfortunately wasn’t there during their famous horse racing. I could’ve spent all day there just looking at all the old architecture and tall tower. I bought some gelato at a nearby cafe, had a seat, and was fortunate to spot a wedding. I couldn’t even imagine the price tag of the wedding being held there. This is a must see for anyone visiting the city.Visited March 2024Travelled soloWritten 11 April 2024
- TomAndBeth2017Chesterfield, United Kingdom164 contributionsPasta & PalazzoBeautiful large Palazzo. We sat and had a meal as we watched the world go by. Not a lot more to it after you’ve had a walk around it - didn’t do the museum. Still busy at the end of April. Make sure to take in some of the more interesting architecture around the city when visiting.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 May 2024
- IanC54Axbridge, United Kingdom251 contributionsPreparing for the PalioFabulous centre piece of Siena. When we visited it was being readied for the July Palo so there was a real feel on the forthcoming historical centre piece of Sienese life. The rolling nature of the race course, the tightness of the bends, the atmosphere of 70,000 people crammed into that colourful arena could all be imagined. Great visit.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 July 2024
- Travel Blog Anna Blunschi513 contributionsheart of the old townAt the heart of the old town is the Piazza del Campo. It is semicircular and slopes slightly and consists of old red-brown townhouses. There are countless restaurants on the Piazza. I really enjoyed sitting there, eating something delicious and watching what was going on. Especially in the warm season, countless visitors sit here and enjoy the unique magic that surrounds this square. Twice a year, on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August, the Plazza del Campo hosts the controversial horse race, which is called Palio di Siena. The Palio is much more than a horse race. The inhabitants compete in one of Europe’s most famous and at the same time toughest races. Unsaddled horses and medieval costumes, flag-wavers and drummers, ancient rituals, and the unbridled emotions of tens of thousands of people characterize the Palio.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 20 August 2024
- ThorwaldVikingAsgaarWinter Park, Florida182 contributionsPiazza del Campo / Siena, ItalyPiazza del Campo is the main public space of the historic center of Siena, a city in Tuscany, Italy, and the campo regarded as one of Europe's greatest medieval squares. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its Torre del Mangia, as well as various palazzi signorili surround the shell-shaped piazza. At the northwest edge is the Fonte Gaia. The twice-a-year horse-race, Palio di Siena, is held around the edges of the piazza. The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio; from Latin pallium) is a horse race held twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards, in a tradition dating back to the 17th-century. The Palio held on 2 July is named Palio di Provenzano, in honour of the Madonna of Provenzano, a Marian devotion particular to Siena which developed around an icon from the Terzo Camollia area of the city. The Palio held on 16 August is named Palio dell'Assunta, in honour of the Assumption of Mary. Sometimes, in case of exceptional events or local or national anniversaries deemed relevant and pertinent ones, the city community may decide for an extraordinary Palio, run between May and September, such as on 9 September 2000, to celebrate the city entering the new millennium and on 20 October 2018, in commemoration of the centenary of the end of the Great War. The Corteo Storico, a pageant to the sound of the March of the Palio, precedes the race, which attracts visitors and spectators from around the world. The race itself, in which the jockeys ride bareback, circles the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of earth has been laid. The race is run for three laps of the piazza and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds. It is common for a few of the jockeys to be thrown off their horses while making the treacherous turns in the piazza, and indeed, it is not unusual to see riderless horses finishing the race. A horse is not required to have a rider to win the race. The piazza is also the finish location of the annual road cycling race Strade Bianche.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 September 2024
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AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain22,840 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
Piazza del Campo is the main square of Siena, a wonderful medieval city in Tuscany Region, in the center of Italy. We came here on August 16th (2019) at morning, the day of Palio (a very well-known medieval horse racing in the square), so all square was decorated in Middle Ages-style: it was charming! and you can see some horses from different associations, really beauty. In fact, my 3 years old daughter (in August-2019) enjoyed a lot seeing how horses walking around the square (the race is at evening and we saw it in the TV). Also, in this main square you can see some wonderful buildings like Torre del Mangia (the town hall). A top place in Tuscany, in Italy, in Europe and probably on the world.
(See also Torre del Mangia, Palio di Siena and Centro Storico di Siena)
(See also Torre del Mangia, Palio di Siena and Centro Storico di Siena)
Written 14 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RjessMMM
Vancouver, WA560 contributions
Oct 2022
When walking from our hotel to the piazza, we were so excited to just the wonderful space. Having looked at this on the internet before traveling, we wondered how the in person experience would compare. It just takes your breath away. It was quite busy at the end of October. This place during summer but be overwhelming. You can pretty much sit anywhere. You just cannot lie down. The view of the surrounding structures truly does give it an amphitheater atmosphere. The streets are like spokes to this central area and we visited this over and over. There are numerous places to eat and shop though given the rent they must pay, I would recommend getting blocks away to save money on your meals (which are going to be better) and get a better meal at that. I would just take your time walking around and sit and relax and remember why you left the monotony of our work lives to enjoy the specialness of the piazza. Enjoy.
Written 3 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Swatar
Island of Malta, Malta755 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
If you visit Siena this is clearly the number one place to visit. This piazza has retained its identity for hundreds of years and one can sit and admire the beauty of this beautiful piazza. A must visit.
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CC C
Roseville, CA1 contribution
Oct 2019
We took a trip to Sienna and sat down at the Piazza Del Campo after a long day of walking and ordered drinks only. The waiter, who was 'very nice' we thought, brought us an appetizer and we told him we did not order it. He said, 'Oh no! This is on the house!" and buzzed away only to come back with two more plates of different appetizers. I told him we were no hungry but thank you and he again said, 'Enjoy!'... (which we hardly touched, but some tasted the food in respect of the gesture) ...and then we got the bill. 49.30 without tip. My jaw dropped and the young man was no where in sight. The management told us what translates to 'too bad too sad' and we were stuck with paying over and above the three 3,80 picoola's we ordered. I had thought Siena was the perfect part of the trip and then this totally made me sick. I hope they don't do this to everybody! CC
Written 16 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cath186534
Glasgow, UK155 contributions
Oct 2019
I took the ordinary Vaibus early morning to Siena and returned late afternoon. It was a comfortable journey and inexpensive 8.40 euros one way.
I headed for Piazza del Campo although meeting breathtaking secenery on the walk there from the bus station.
For a change Siena is hillier than Lucca or Firenze.
I stopped at Osteria Il Bigelli for a simple breakfast of coffee & croissant 6.5 euros and enjoyed the square which is so beautiful and THE place to sit and peoplewatch!
I then followed some of the suggested walks from my guidebook taking me to the Doumo - yet another beautiful structure with that very light stone. I didn't go in since I only had one day.
At lunchtime I happened upon a lovely wee ristorante: Bar San Domenico on Piazza San Domenico and had lovely gnocchi and a generous glass of prosecco some water etc for 16euros. The view from here over to the Duomo on another hill wasamazing.
After yet more wandering around I made my way back for a last peoplewatch and a cool beer at Piazza del Campo....small Peroni 6 euros at Liberamente Osteria...just a tad expensive .
My one regret about Siena....not spending more time there - it was so peaceful after spending just 2 days in Florence!
I headed for Piazza del Campo although meeting breathtaking secenery on the walk there from the bus station.
For a change Siena is hillier than Lucca or Firenze.
I stopped at Osteria Il Bigelli for a simple breakfast of coffee & croissant 6.5 euros and enjoyed the square which is so beautiful and THE place to sit and peoplewatch!
I then followed some of the suggested walks from my guidebook taking me to the Doumo - yet another beautiful structure with that very light stone. I didn't go in since I only had one day.
At lunchtime I happened upon a lovely wee ristorante: Bar San Domenico on Piazza San Domenico and had lovely gnocchi and a generous glass of prosecco some water etc for 16euros. The view from here over to the Duomo on another hill wasamazing.
After yet more wandering around I made my way back for a last peoplewatch and a cool beer at Piazza del Campo....small Peroni 6 euros at Liberamente Osteria...just a tad expensive .
My one regret about Siena....not spending more time there - it was so peaceful after spending just 2 days in Florence!
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ag17022000
618 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
The Campo is not similar to any other square, and is perhaps (I dare say), excluding any views from above, the single most worthy "urban" sight that exists in Tuscany immediately after the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa (affirmation to be taken with a pinch of salt, because my own Tuscan experience is still limited). Be that as it may, it is such a wonderful place that not even the crowds of tourists in the hottest hours of a summer day can ruin it, and so characteristic that you could spend hours examining the details of each of the houses that surround it; simpler than one expects, perhaps, at first glance, the curved shell-shaped square reveals itself to be increasingly unusual and detailed as the eye manages to explore it all, from every point of view. At first it is above all the very high tower that captures the eye, then the eye focuses on each residence. An open space with a medieval spirit, a truly nerve center of an incredible city incredibly linked to its traditions, a visit to the attractions it offers (frescoes not to be missed in the Civic Museum, the view from the tower and more) would take quite a long time, but I always recommend taking a few minutes even to sit in its center, like university students, and simply enjoy the environment.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris P
Troy444 contributions
Apr 2022
Interesting wall city. Depending on what you want to see we saw everything in a little over a hour. Like most tourist spots it had all the typical shops nothing special. We would recommend going but go early it get very busy the later in the day
Written 15 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IanC54
Axbridge, UK251 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
Fabulous centre piece of Siena. When we visited it was being readied for the July Palo so there was a real feel on the forthcoming historical centre piece of Sienese life. The rolling nature of the race course, the tightness of the bends, the atmosphere of 70,000 people crammed into that colourful arena could all be imagined. Great visit.
Written 7 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aleni77
Bolzano, Italy811 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Its particularity of the shell shape certainly make it unique in the world. Well kept, clean. It's obviously worth a visit. The surrounding premises obviously with above average prices, but just move a few hundred meters and already everything is downsized.
Automatically translated
Written 26 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ECYW
Basking Ridge, NJ25 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
My family and I visited Sienna right after Christmas and we were very lucky to have incredible weather (around 50F with lots of sun). The Piazza Del Campo was the main square in Sienna and it was quite beautiful and a must visit site. Sienna is also a beautiful hill top city. Walking around Sienna really takes you back in time with the cobblestone narrow roads and some fairly steep roads so some places certainly not very handicap friendly. Overall, it was a great place to visit and we definitely recommend it!!!
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ci saranno quest'anno i mercatini di natale?
Written 13 September 2020
Io sono di Ferrara.
Mi piacerebbe andarci nel caso ci fossero, ma la domanda per me e’ impossibile.
Ti conviene rivolgere questa domanda ad una/uno del forum di Siena o ad un senese che ha fatto una recensione.
Costruii così una vacanza a Roma, riuscita benissimo, mettendomi in contatto con una ragazza del forum di Roma che mi diede dei consigli molto preziosi e risolutivi.
Le recensioni che ho fatto su Siena sono tutte imparziali, come e’ mia abitudine da sempre, quindi segui i miei consigli e la tua vacanza sara’ bella di sicuro.
Ciao!
Lorenzo S.
Written 14 September 2020
Is it illegal to lie down in the Piazza or take your shoes off? We are here on a beautiful day and an overzealous police officer is keeping himself busy making sure these two public outrages don’t occur.
Written 8 October 2019
Hi Ben--They weren't enforcing such bans in Siena when we visited a month ago, but in Rome they are rigidly enforcing the "no-sitting" rules on the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Part of their keep-it-clean campaign I guess...the Seps were gross in past years.
Written 8 October 2019
Are most attractions and museums open on Mondays?
Written 2 May 2019
Most museums are closed on Mondays... but check on line. Things vary from winter to summer season.
Written 3 May 2019
Buongiorno volevo sapere quali siano le attrazioni piu importanti di Siena.
Il complesso museale di Madonna della scala è bello e vale la pena?
Written 1 January 2019
tutto il centro storico è meraviglioso, almeno per me che amo i quartieri antichi, ma per poter visitare museo torre duomo metti mano al portafoglio, tutto a pagamento
Written 19 March 2019
Il 2 luglio 2018 per il palio dove si può parcheggiare? Esistono bus navetta per Piazza del campo ?
Written 1 July 2018
Ci sono svariati parcheggi in centro a Siena. Sono gestiti dalla Siena parcheggi (quelli a pagamento).
Da Ogni parcheggio cittadino è comodo raggiungere piazza delCampo anche a piedi, ma prima della carriera ci sono bus (qui li chiamano pollicini)
Written 17 August 2018
Understand the Cathedral complex is open Sunday afternoon, are shops and restaurants open Sunday morning?
Written 12 October 2017
How do I find out about a walking tour?
Written 12 October 2017
Sorry about the delay in responding - we've been travelling.
The hotel promoted the walking tour we did but it is available through the shop in the corner of the piazza. If you are standing looking at the tower it is in the corner diagonally front left. the tours start from outside this shop as well.
Written 13 November 2017
is there a train from Cortona to Sienna? Where is the nearest train station?
Written 7 October 2017
Hi, we had a rented vehicle while in Tuscany as it was easier to get around so I honestly don't know. I'm sorry!
Written 29 October 2017
The nearest airport to Sienna is Florence Italy. The drive from Florence to Sienna is about one hour and a half. If you are driving straight from the airport to Sienna, you do not even have to go into the city of Florence. The roads are great and the signage is clear.
Written 20 April 2017
Is parking in the city difficult? Or is there a better place to park and take a train in?
Written 23 March 2016
Yes, parking within the ancient city walls can be quite difficult, though you can park outside the walls and walk in. As with most ancient sites, the central city is pretty small and walkable, so you don't need a car. If handicapped it's tough to get around anyway due to the cobblestone streets.
Written 21 July 2016
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