Recently Viewed
Siena Tour: Explore Historic Palaces and Basilica San Domenico
4.8
40 Ratings
Siena
Embark on a two-hour enchanting walk through Siena's historic palaces and the Basilica San Domenico. Explore the unique marble floor of the Cathedral and discover the medieval tradition of the Palio horse race. Admire the Italian architecture of the Town Hall and enjoy stunning views from Palazzo Scotti.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Basilica Cateriniana Di S. Domenico - The tour begins in front of the Basilica of San Domenico. From here you will admire a charming view of the city. Inside the chuch are kept the relics of St. Catherine of Siena.
- Chiesa del Santuario di Santa Caterina - The tour continues towards the Sanctuary of the saint, where she lived with her family. Discover the story of this mystic women, married to the Lord, that changed not only Siena, but managed to transform our world forever.
-
Palazzo Tolomei - The Tolomei palace is one of the most ancient buildings, is situated in Tolomei square, which was during the Middle Ages the most important square of the city.
In this square you will see a column with a she-wolf. Learn how and why Siena is closely tied with Rome, with its flag black and white. - Battistero di San Giovanni - We will stop by the Baptistery, to see where the people were baptised.
- Duomo di Siena - The tour of the city continues towards the Cathedral, the large museum complex that contains the Crypt, Baptistery and Opera Museum. Decide with your guide if you want to enter shortly inside the Cathedral to see the unique floor and the artworks by Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo.
-
Piazza del Campo - Passing through the characteristic streets, you will arrive at the famous Piazza del Campo, the main square of Siena, where the well-known Palio takes place twice a year. Here there is the town hall, which houses the most important city museum.
The tour ends in our charming location in an historic palace, Palazzo Scotti, where you can relax and take pictures from the most beautiful exclusive windows overlooking Piazza del Campo!
What's Included
- Discover Siena’s artistic and architectural wonders
- Exclusive photo ops from windows above Piazza del Campo
- 2-hour private tour with a local expert guide
- Complimentary snacks and soft drinks at our location
- Access to amenities including restroom and WiFi
- Exclusive visit to the historic Palazzo Scotti
What's Not Included
- Entrance ticket for Siena Cathedral (from 5 euros)
Additional Information
Embark on a captivating two-hour stroll that unveils the beauty of Siena’s most admired locations. Begin with a stop at the Basilica San Domenico, which houses the sacred relics of St. Catherine, before heading towards her ancient abode. Traverse the city’s unique streets on your way to the Cathedral and opt to briefly step inside to marvel at the distinctive marble flooring and artwork by accomplished artists like Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo. Next, find your way to the renowned Piazza del Campo, the city’s central square that hosts the biannual Palio horse race. Gain insight into this age-old tradition and its significance to the people of Siena. Behold the Town Hall, renowned for its Italian architectural design and home to the city’s esteemed museum. Be sure to observe the Joyfull Fountain as well and pay attention to amusing tales about the elusive ‘Diana’ river. Cap off the tour with a visit to our location in the historical Palazzo Scotti for some great photo opportunities from our exclusive vantage points overlooking the Piazza del Campo. Sit back, relax, and relish the moment!
- participants will walk medium distances
- wear comfortable shoes and be ready for changing weather conditions
- in case of wheelchairs and pushchairs please let us know before so that we can organize the tour in the best possible way
- due to force majeure or closure of museums or churches, we reserve the right to change the itinerary, subject to prior notice
Location
Piazza San Domenico
Meet your guide in front of the Basilica San Domenico, under the big tree.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(40 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Amy_s
Jul 24, 2023
Excellent Private Tour of Siena, Cathedral and Window View of Piazza del Campo - Benny was a great tour guide in explaining Siena and its history; Catherine, its patron saint; its contrade and Palio di Siena. Even though the Siena Cathedral was not a part of our tour, I had contacted the tour company in advance about getting skip-the-line tickets to the cathedral. Benny accommodated us that day by securing the skip-the-line tickets and taking us on a brief tour inside. It would not have been the same if we had tried to do it on our own - we wouldn't have gained the same knowledge, so we really appreciated her doing so (even though it meant forgoing some of the other items on the tour). The cathedral was worth it - amazingly beautiful inside. In addition, the exclusive window view of Piazza del Campo was also worth it. To actually gain entrance to one of Siena's buildings, go to the top and see the piazza from that viewpoint with a cool, refreshing drink and small snack was a fantastic way to end the tour. Plus, our family of six were the only ones on the tour, which made for a memorable and feeling like VIPs for the day.
Review provided by Viator
Piriot
May 19, 2023
Three days in Siena, 4 lady friends - We really enjoyed our stay in Siena. Proximity to Campo off from the famous and ancient Via Città was two minutes. The apartment has two large bedrooms, a large living area with nice furniture and a fully equipped kitchen. Just one bathroom, but that was spacious. Friendly owner.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dale_r
Sep 29, 2022
Awesome tour of Siena! - Tiziana was amazing! From finding us in the crowd to her encyclopedic knowledge of Siena and the entire Tuscany region, she was a delight.
Every step of the tour brought the wonders of Siena to life. Views and historical details we never would have found on our own.
Review provided by Viator
Paul_v
Sep 13, 2022
Federica was good. Didn’t... - Federica was good. Didn’t rush and very knowledgeable. Easy to understand. Would recommend her to my friends
Review provided by Viator
Richard
Jul 13, 2022
Excellent tour of the... - Excellent tour of the duomo and important sites of Siena. Explained the history of the neighborhood of Siena
Review provided by Viator
Hinrich_v
Jul 5, 2022
Recommendable tour - Very friendly guide, adapted to our needs and the hot weather situation. Had a wealth of background information about the city and its history.
Review provided by Viator
Dave_d
Jun 28, 2022
Awesome Tour - The tour was awesome. The tour guide was great and provided so many awesome details about the history of this beautiful town. My teen girls, wife and I enjoyed the tour and would recommend the tour to anyone.
Review provided by Viator
261madelineb
Jun 19, 2022
Fascinating Tour - Such an interesting and informative tour. I highly recommend for all who visit Siena. Our guide was so informative and enthusiastic. Well worth the money and time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jucoed
May 31, 2022
Excellent way to see Siena - An excellent tour of the Siena , thank you to our guide Lavinia. Her knowledge of and passion for her home city meant we were able to gain an understanding of Siena’s history in two hours which would not have been possible without her guidance. A really enjoyable tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristin_c
Apr 19, 2022
Book this tour! So good! - Such an incredible tour. Our tour guide Shokla was so kind, funny and knowledgeable. She shared such wonderful stories of history, art and palio day. She was accommodating for my aging parents who struggled with the hills in the city. This tour was a highlight!
Review provided by Viator
