Our Expert Review Of Hotels in Siena, Italy

Tucked into the heart of Tuscany, Siena is a medieval, walled city that just oozes with charm. Upon entering the city, you will notice that the streets are lined with colorful banners. The symbols on the banners represent each of the seventeen city wards that participate in the Palio, Siena’s famous horse race.  Each ward enters ten horses and riders. The parades and pageantry is concentrated on the Piazza del Campo, the fan-shaped, coved plaza in the center of Siena. The Palio is held every year on July 2 and August 16.

If history and culture is on your agenda, Siena won’t disappoint. The Duomo or cathedral is a gorgeous mix of Gothic and Romanesque architecture with a façade of dark green and white marble. Inside, you will find works by many artists, including Donatello, Pisano and Arnolfo di Cambio, and an intricate, marble-inlaid floor.  Its museum is worth seeing as well. Santa Maria della Scala, formerly one of Europe’s oldest hospitals, is now used for a museum and for cultural purposes. Located in front of the Cathedral, the museum holds testimony to thousands of years of history, running from the Etruscan and Roman age, through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, to modern times.

But really, Siena is about the beauty of the cobbled streets, the piazzas, the food, and the people.  Sit at a table in the Piazza del Campo, have a glass of wine and some pizza, watch the world go by and be grateful for your luck to be there.

Here are a few of our favorite bargain hotels in or near Siena

Arcobeleno Hotel
Located at the edge of town,  the charming and well-priced Arcobeleno Hotel offers rooms with a full private bathroom ,direct dial phone with modem and fax  connections, cable color TV, individual heating and air conditioning, multimedia kiosk with internet access, electronic mail, rapid connection ADSL and printer.

Alma Domus
The Alma Domus is a good choice for the budget traveler wanting a hotel in the center of Siena. The location is just a short walk from where the bus from the train station brings you into town (Piazza Gramsci.)  The hotel is operated by the Nuns of St. Catherine, who offer warm hospitality. Many of the midsize rooms have balconies with great views of the Duomo. There is no AC.

Hotel San Marco
Located just outside of Siena, the Hotel San Marco has 28 rooms (two handicap equipped.) Each room has Satellite TV, telephone, internet connection, mini-bar, a safe large enough for a P.C., air conditioning, heating and private bathroom with shower and hair-dryer. Bus service to the center of Siena is available from the hotel every 15 minutes from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.