Siena Audio Guided Walking Tour: Explore Medieval Heart in 75 Minutes

An absolute symbol of Siena, Piazza del Campo was conceived in the 13th century as the true heart of the city. At the time, an immense financial and urban effort transformed an insalubrious plot into a monumental square, intended to represent the city’s power vis-à-vis its rivals, led by Florence.

Located below the cathedral, the Battistero di San Giovanni is one of the jewels of the monumental complex of Siena. Its construction began in 1316, under the direction of the architect Camaino di Crescentino, and its square shape contrasts with the traditional octagonal structure of the Italian Baptistries.

The Facciatone, literally the “great façade”, is one of the most striking testimonies to Siena’s interrupted ambitions. It is the monumental remnant of the Duomo Nuovo project, launched in 1339. The idea was to build a gigantic cathedral, which would have eclipsed all the others in Europe.

It is hard to imagine Siena without its cathedral. The Duomo di Siena is one of the jewels of medieval Italy, a religious, political and artistic work that has marked the history of the city. Its construction began in the 13th century, on the site of an ancient Romanesque church, and spanned nearly 200 years.

At the foot of the cathedral lies one of Tuscany’s largest cultural centres: the museum complex of Santa Maria della Scala. This huge building, which stretches over nearly 40,000 m2, was first one of the oldest hospitals in Europe, mentioned as early as the 9th century and developed from the 12th.

From this viewpoint on Via del Costone, you will find a real Tuscan postcard. The ochre red of the roofs and facades of Siena contrasts beautifully with the greenery of the hills. Just below, we can see the ancient city walls, witnesses of centuries of rivalry and Siena's desire to protect itself

This is probably the most famous medieval fountain in Siena: the Fontebranda. Mentioned as early as 1081, enlarged in the 12th century and rebuilt in 1246, it now boasts its Gothic façade with three large arches, topped by a crenellated crowning. But behind its picturesque charm lies a little jewel

Facing you stands the Basilica of the Madonna di Provenzano, a monument that embodies the soul of Siena. Built at the end of the 16th century in a Mannerist style, it is distinguished by its white marble facade. Its large dome, almost invisible from the outside, reveals itself much better once inside.

On your left is the House and Shrine of Saint Catherine, where Catherine Benincasa, daughter of a dyer who became patron saint of Italy and a major figure in medieval spirituality, was born and raised. After its canonization, the family house was bought by the municipality and transformed into a sanctuary.