Ahhh...Siena

I've never been to this gem of a Tuscan hill town, but now that I've read about it I can't wait to see it in person. It is supposedly a space left in time, fallen to Florence who rose to the super power of the region and gutted of a significant portion of its residents when the plague hit hard. Most of the medieval and early Renaissance art is untouched and much less commercialized than the larger cities and galleries. There is an unfinished facade of what was planned to be the largest cathedral in the world, and what is cited as one of the best piazzas in all of Italy. This is as an authentic Italian treasure and I am happy that we will wander through the streets as we venture through the Tuscan countryside on a day trip from Florence. Here is a link to Rick Steve's site with tips on experiencing Siena.

This is an arial view of the city - there are few cars allowed in the city walls so it is extremely pedestrian friendly.