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Palazzo Pubblico

Palazzo Pubblico: Our most recommended tours and activities

Siena 2-Hour Walking Tour & Skip-the-Line Duomo Tickets

1. Siena 2-Hour Walking Tour & Skip-the-Line Duomo Tickets

Discover the beauty of Siena during a 2-hour walking tour, one of the world's most well-preserved medieval cities. Walk the narrow cobblestone streets and marvel at the architecture. Visit the Basilica di San Domenico and learn more about St Catherine, patron of Italy. Learn about the grand history of this proud Republic and discover the traditional Palio, a spectacular festival that features a wild bare-back horse race around Piazza del Campo, the city's central square. Learn about the Contrade or city neighborhoods and how they wait all year to participate in this fundamental race. Visit Siena's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to marvel at the magnificent architecture of Palazzo Salimbeni, today the world's oldest Bank, attesting to the wealth and trade of its glorious past. See Palazzo Tolomei, an imposing private Gothic building and the main square with its monuments and fountain. Discover the culinary traditions of the town and finally walk to one of the most spectacular cathedrals in Italy, the Duomo of Siena.  Your English-speaking local tour guide will escort you inside the Siena Cathedral to visit the chapels and to see the impressive masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, and other artists, an unforgettably rich building of centuries of art and devotion.

From Florence: Siena, San Gimignano & Monteriggioni Tour

2. From Florence: Siena, San Gimignano & Monteriggioni Tour

Experience the charm of Tuscany on a day trip to Siena, San Gimignano, and Monteriggioni from Florence. Try a variety of Chianti wines paired with snacks and admire the picturesque Tuscan hills.  Cross the beautiful Chianti hills as you ride south from Florence in an air-conditioned GT bus. The first stop is at Monteriggioni, a medieval hilltop town that is famous for its intact medieval city walls. After some free time, head to the world famous Siena. Explore the Piazza del Campo, that is known for the Palio Horse Race and for its splendid examples of Gothic civic architecture. Have time to visit the magnificent Palazzo Pubblico.  Arrive in San Gimignano, a medieval town declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Take time to wind your way through the narrow streets and admire the lush landscape. Finally, head to the Chianti area and enjoy postcard-perfect landscapes. Conclude your day at a famous wine estate and taste fine Chianti red wine along with homemade snacks.

Siena: Palazzo Pubblico Entry Ticket

3. Siena: Palazzo Pubblico Entry Ticket

Enter the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena and visit the Civic Museum with this entry ticket. Located inside the Palazzo Pubblico, the Civic Museum is a 13th-century building home to impressive wall-to-wall fresco paintings. Explore the museum to learn about the history of Siena and see precious artifacts. Exchange your voucher for an entry ticket at the ticket office and begin your visit in the Sala del Risorgimento. This room hosts fresco paintings that depict the life of Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy. Walkthrough the Sala di Balìa and see wall paintings from the 15th-century by Spinello Aretino and Martino di Bartolomeo. Also, see the Sala dei Cardinali where precious carved coffers keep reliquaries. Move forward to the Sala del Concistoro, famous for its Beccafumi vault, and see Taddeo di Bartolo's 15th-century Cappella. Continue on to the Sala del Mappamondo, the widest room of the Palazzo Pubblico and used as the meeting place of the General Council. See the famous Maestà, a Gothic masterpiece painted by Simone Martini. The museum entry ticket also includes a visit to the 14th-century gallery, Loggia dei Nove, which offers a beautiful view of the landscape behind Palazzo Pubblico.

From Florence: San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni Tour

4. From Florence: San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni Tour

Explore the heart of beautiful Tuscany on a full-day tour of the towns of San Gimignano and Siena, then discover the bucolic wine region of Chianti. Depart from Florence by an air-conditioned bus to your first stop, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano. Discover one of the most splendid examples of an Italian medieval town. Distinguished by its famous towering skyline, San Gimignano stands along the Via Francigena on the hills of the Upper Val D’Elsa. Get acquainted with the Tuscan environment with the town’s Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine, saffron, and Santa Fina pottery. Enjoy some free time to stroll through the town on your own and see its beautiful squares, architecture, churches, and side streets. Afterward, head out to a unique location in the Chianti countryside to enjoy a wine tasting. Once you hop off the bus, be guided around a splendid winery. Get introduced to the estate's fascinating history and background. Head inside the cellars to learn the secrets of Chianti winemaking together with the local host. Then enjoy a delicious wine tasting of Chianti Classico. Continue to Siena for a guided tour of its enchanting architectural styles, including the Cathedral (exterior only) and Palazzo Comunale (Municipal Building, exterior only) in Piazza del Campo. The famous shell-shaped square provides the stage for the thrilling Palio horse race, run twice every summer.

Siena: Guided Walking Tour with Cathedral Entry

5. Siena: Guided Walking Tour with Cathedral Entry

See the highlights of Siena on a walking tour as your guide tells you about the development of the city over the centuries and you enjoy the spectacular scenery and monuments. As you visit Siena’s major attractions such as the central Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Comunale, the Cathedral, and the majestic Basilica of San Domenico you’ll learn about each of these sights in depth from your guide. You’ll also hear about the noble families that were instrumental in the history of the city, including the Piccolomini, Tolomei, and Salimbeni, and see their palazzos. You’ll learn about the great tradition of the palio and hear stories of pilgrimage and saintliness that distinguish Siena. Visit the Cathedral, where numerous artistic treasures are preserved. You’ll see works by artists such as Pisano, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Donatello, Pinturicchio, and Gianlorenzo Bernini. During the summer you can also see the marvelous marble floor, which is a unique work in the history of art.

Siena: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

6. Siena: Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour

Get to know Siena at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. Solve puzzles outside of ten Siena attractions. Follow clues at each attraction to find your next destination. Enjoy the challenge of using logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to complete the game. Feel the satisfaction of solving each riddle. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. Have the freedom to pause or resume the tour whenever you want. Admire the city at your own pace. Uncover interesting information and facts about the city. Snap as many pictures as you want.  Start your tour from the much-photographed Duomo. Visit the unique Baptistry of St John with its facade still under construction, you will still encounter the famous hill of the imposingness of Palazzo Piccolomini. Take a picture of the small central square Loggia del Papa and let yourself get lost in the Torre del Mangia, which when built was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. Visit the breathtaking Palazzo Pubblico and pass by the Palazzo Buonsignori with its unique and world-renowned exhibits. Admire the exhibits of Santa Maria della Scala, once an important city hospital dedicated to the care of abandoned children, the poor, the sick, and pilgrims. Stroll through Piazza del Campo, considered one of the largest medieval squares in all of Europe.

Siena: Civic Museum Private Tour

7. Siena: Civic Museum Private Tour

With this 2hour guided tour of the Civic Museum you will discover one of the major Italy museums. Inside Palazzo Pubblico an expert guide will explain you the frescoes, created by some of the most important 14th-century artists, such as Simone Martini, Duccio di Buoninsegna and Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Within the exhibitions, you will see artistic works from the 14th up to the 19th century, offering you a complete overview of the evolution of Sienese art. Your guide will lead you to discover the heart of Sienese Art — the Civic Museum inside the Sienese town hall. Once inside the Civic Museum you will be introduced to the beautiful 19th-century frescoes in the first room of the museum, dedicated to Italy’s Risorgimento (unification), and you'll discover the medieval World Map Room, with the masterpieces of Simone Martini, la Maestà, and il Guidoriccio da Fogliano. Finishing your visit in the Peace Room, where you'll find the famous depiction of Siena, and the Allegory of Good and Bad Government, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, one of the first examples of civil art. The subject of the painting is not religious, but rather represents Utopia in Siena and explains the difference between the good and the bad government.

Best of Tuscany Full-Day Scenic Tour from Florence

8. Best of Tuscany Full-Day Scenic Tour from Florence

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the towns, villages, and countryside of Tuscany on a full-day private excursion from Florence, and travel back in time to the days of the Romans, Etruscans and Middle Ages. You will start by driving to Pisa, a gentle town that recalls the days of the Pisan Republic. The focus will be on the astonishing Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), home to the medieval Duomo, Baptistery, and legendary Leaning Tower. Continue to the Etruscan village of San Gimignano, famous for its Vernaccia wines and medieval towers. Stroll the narrow streets of this pearl of Middle Aged Tuscany, before driving to the walled settlement of Monteriggioni, built in the 13th century by the Sienese to keep watch over the Roman Via Cassia from its hillside location. Siena is the next stop, where you will tour the romantic center, best known for the annual Palio horse race in the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. The city’s medieval skyline is dominated by the Gothic cathedral and taut needle of the Torre del Mangia. Also not to be missed is the Palazzo Pubblico, home to an important museum, and a great work of architecture in its own right. On the way back to Florence, see the charming Chianti area, characterized by rolling hills dotted with vineyards, cypress trees, olive groves, and small hamlets.

From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur

9. From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with a Private Chauffeur

Spend a day exploring the Tuscan countryside on a chauffeur-driven tour. Immerse yourself in Tuscan culture as you visit Siena's main attractions, explore an ancient hilltop town and discover one of Italy's most beloved wine regions. Your day begins with a hotel pickup to take you to the first stop on your sightseeing excursion, Siena. This historical city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its Palio, the bareback horse race that takes around its main piazza. Visit the three must-see attractions in Siena, the Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and the iconic Cathedral, one of the few examples of Italian Gothic architecture. Head back to your car and continue your tour of Tuscany with a drive to the walled hilltop town of San Gimignano. Dubbed the Town of Fine Towers, San is renowned for preserving more than a dozen medieval towers. Wander through this ancient city, explore the alleys and see the Piazza del Duomo and the seven towers that surround this town square. End your day of sightseeing with a visit to the Chianti wine region. Marvel at the unforgettable landscapes with its rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves.

Siena: City Highlights Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

10. Siena: City Highlights Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

Make your way through Siena's dazzling maze of narrow cobblestone streets while taking in its fascinating and colorful history on this self-guided audio tour. Founded as an Etruscan settlement, by 1100 Siena had become a powerful city-state, thanks to its strong military, and thriving banking and trading industries. Throughout the following centuries, the Republic of Siena became an important center of Medieval and Renaissance art and scholarship, influencing artists throughout Italy and Europe alike. On this tour, you'll learn more about the city's history and see some of it's most iconic sights. Your walk begins in Siena's famous 13th-century Piazza del Campo, the stunning main square, where the famous Palio horse race is still held bi-annually during the summer. Here, I’ll outline the city's rich history while sharing anecdotes and pointing out the square’s main attractions including the Palazzo Pubblico, Siena’s Town Hall, with its majestic bell tower. From there, you'll wind your way through the old city, making a brief stop outside the oldest bank headquarters in the world, the Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank, founded in 1472. You'll see several magnificent view points before ending in front of the Duomo, one of the most impressive examples of Italian Gothic architecture in Italy.

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What people are saying about Palazzo Pubblico

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 4,970 reviews

Tour was extremely value for money. There was only six of us. Meeting point was easy to locate. Our guide, Vincenzo (not sure if I got the name and/or spelling right) was very amiable and experienced. One thing though, I wouldn’t suggest going for the lunch (though the price difference is really negligible). Not that the lunch was bad, it was worth the penny paid but its not everyday that you get to visit Siena. I recommend that you check out other more popular food places in Siena to make the most of your time. Winery we visited was mediocre but nothing to complain about for the price point. If you’re in tuscany for the winery, look elsewhere or go on your own. This experience is suitable for people who want to visit the towns :)

The tour was really excellent. Great tour of Siena and San Gimignano, two of the best places in Italy, wine tasting and a stop at another picturesque village. Excellent guides and driver. A must experience in Tuscany and a truly value for money. Thank you guys!

A really lovely way to spend the day, and by far the most efficient way of getting around Tuscany without feeling rushed. The driver Massimo was excellent, very knowledgeable and very friendly.

It was wonderful and well worth it. Our guide, Vincenzo, was great and didn’t crowd u. Gave great info and let you explore independently. Highly recommend it.

Wonderful guided tour around Siena; helpful to do your first day to get you oriented.