Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena & San Gimignano
- Category
- Florence-Base Day Trips
- Cancellation
- Free, up to 24 hours before
- Price
- From €139 / adult
About this experience
What to expect
Florence and Siena sit only a short distance apart on the map, yet they feel like different worlds. Understanding the rivalry between them, and how it shaped each city, makes a trip from Florence to Siena and San Gimignano more rewarding. This page looks at that rivalry, the art that came out of it and the food of the hill towns.
Two rivals, one landscape
In the Middle Ages, Florence and Siena were competing republics, both rich from trade and banking. They fought repeatedly. In 1260 Siena won the Battle of Montaperti, one of the great Sienese victories, and for a time it seemed that Siena might come out on top. In the end Florence grew stronger, and in the sixteenth century Siena was absorbed into the Medici state. The long memory of the rivalry still colours local pride.
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Gothic Siena, Renaissance Florence
Florence is remembered for the Renaissance: the great dome of its cathedral, the work of Brunelleschi, and the art of Botticelli and Michelangelo. Siena's golden age came earlier, in the Gothic period. The Sienese school of painting produced Duccio, Simone Martini and the Lorenzetti brothers, who favoured gold backgrounds, elegant lines and rich colour. In Siena's Palazzo Pubblico, Ambrogio Lorenzetti painted the Allegory of Good and Bad Government, a famous fresco on how a city should be run.
Siena's growth was cut short by the Black Death of 1348, which hit the city very hard. A plan to build a vast new cathedral nave was abandoned, and part of the unfinished structure can still be seen next to the existing Duomo. One result was that Siena changed relatively little afterwards, which is why its medieval character survives.
The table of the hill towns
Food in this part of Tuscany is rooted in the farm. A few typical products of the Siena and San Gimignano area are:
- Pecorino, sheep's milk cheese eaten fresh or aged, often with honey or pears.
- Cinghiale, wild boar, braised into ragù for pasta or stewed.
- Saffron, grown around San Gimignano and used in local cooking.
- Vernaccia, the crisp white wine of San Gimignano, said to have been among Italy's earliest DOC wines.
- Pici, thick hand-rolled pasta from the Siena countryside.
Thinking about timing
The atmosphere of a hill town depends a great deal on the hour. Midday in high summer can be hot and crowded, with squares full of day visitors. Early morning and late afternoon are quieter and the stone glows. In winter the towns are calmer, but the days are shorter and the air can be cold on exposed ridges. Whichever season, shoes with good grip are far more important than fashionable ones.
Florence before and after
Anyone starting a day in Florence can easily add context on foot. The Duomo, the Baptistery, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria sit within a short walk of each other in the historic centre. For a view over the whole city, many people walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo on the south bank of the Arno, which is especially atmospheric near sunset.
A few words of Italian go a long way in smaller towns. Buongiorno when entering a shop, per favore and grazie are noticed and appreciated, and they tend to be returned with warmth.
It is also worth noting that Italian cafés usually have two prices, one for standing at the bar and a higher one for sitting at a table. Drinking an espresso at the counter is the local habit and over in a minute.
Useful information
- Wear comfortable shoes, as both hill towns have steep cobbled streets.
- Tell the organiser about allergies or dietary needs when you book.
- Carry water and sun protection in summer and a warm layer in winter.
- If you like art history, read a little about Sienese painting beforehand.
Know before you go
- Hill towns are quieter early in the morning and later in the afternoon.
- Churches usually require covered shoulders and knees.
Frequently asked questions
▸Why were Florence and Siena rivals?
Both were wealthy medieval republics that competed for land, trade and influence in Tuscany. They fought several wars, and Florence eventually came out ahead.
▸What was the Battle of Montaperti?
It was a battle fought in 1260 in which Siena defeated Florence. It remains one of the most remembered events in Sienese history.
▸Who painted the Allegory of Good and Bad Government?
Ambrogio Lorenzetti painted the fresco in the Palazzo Pubblico in Siena. It shows the effects of good and bad rule on a city and its countryside.
▸Who designed Florence's cathedral dome?
Filippo Brunelleschi designed the dome of Florence's cathedral, a major engineering achievement of the early Renaissance.
▸What is pecorino?
Pecorino is cheese made from sheep's milk. Tuscan versions are made fresh or aged and are often eaten with honey, pears or jam.
▸What is cinghiale?
Cinghiale is wild boar, a traditional Tuscan meat. It is commonly slow-cooked into ragù or stews.
▸What is the Black Death's connection to Siena's cathedral?
The plague of 1348 ended Siena's plan to build a much larger cathedral. The unfinished structure can still be seen beside the existing building.
from €139