Wander around the Historic Center of Siena

If you want to get lost in a city's meandering alleyways and steps surrounded by luscious vineyards, Siena is the place to be. The gothic romanticism of this ancient city has been zealously safeguarded throughout the years, and visiting Siena is like going back in time in some respects. Numerous structures and works of art were added to the natural beauty of the city between the 12th and 15th centuries, which has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1995. Siena, a city that rivals Florence in terms of urban planning, is a sight to see and a must-see for anybody visiting Tuscany.

A journey to Siena would be incomplete without taking in the splendor of the Cathedral, one of Italy's best-known specimens of Gothic architecture. The cathedral's construction began in the 12th century, and the façade was finished by 1380. The Duomo was intended to be the world's biggest cathedral, but once the transept and east wall were completed, a shortage of funding prevented that aim from being realized.

Among the several pieces of art found here, the most renowned are Guido da Siena's The Votive Madonna, Fra Giovanni da Verona's wooden choral bench, and Nicola Pisano's marble bergamot. Then there are the works of Pinturicchio, Donatello, and Neroccio in the Chapel of San Giovanni Battista, and the Piccolomini Library, which is a collection of Pius II's library, in the first span of the nave on the left.

Location: Piazza Del Campo, 53100 Siena (SI)