Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo
5
About
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
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Admission tickets
from
AU$16.82
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Piazza del Campo
The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • LostInTime
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania23,392 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Old square
    This 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 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 24 February 2024
  • Xamot Tomax
    Fort Wayne, Indiana7,216 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Area untouched by time
    This 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 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 11 April 2024
  • TomAndBeth2017
    Chesterfield, United Kingdom164 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pasta & Palazzo
    Beautiful 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 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 May 2024
  • IanC54
    Axbridge, United Kingdom251 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Preparing for the Palio
    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.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 July 2024
  • Travel Blog Anna Blunschi
    513 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    heart of the old town
    At 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 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 August 2024
  • ThorwaldVikingAsgaar
    Winter Park, Florida182 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Piazza del Campo / Siena, Italy
    Piazza 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 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles14,422 reviews
Excellent
11,462
Very good
2,566
Average
352
Poor
32
Terrible
11

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

AlbertSalichs
Manresa, Spain22,840 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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)
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
1.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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!
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.
Google
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
3.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
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.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 3,756
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

All Siena HotelsSiena Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Siena
All things to do in Siena
Day Trips in Siena
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars