This is a charming hilltop castle and winery in Tuscany that is open for tours. We came in the…read morewinter time and for seven euros, we were able to hike the property basically by ourselves and see a view of the surrounding valleys that made my heart stop! Included in that admission cost is one free tasting of the Chianti that they make on the property, which is lovely! I was very glad we stopped here and would recommend it to anyone.

We went here yesterday on a wine tour. The castle grounds are very pretty & worth checking out…read more There is a winery tasting room but it's not at the castle. It's down the hill at another building. You can walk around the outside of the castle building and see amazing views of the vineyard. At the wine tasting room we tried a few of their wines and bought a bottle of one the Chianti's.

We were lucky enough to see the cathedral in October when the floors were uncovered and it was…read moretruly a sight to see. Absolutely worth the visit and make sure to go to the top of the bell tower during your visit for a spectacular view and a great photo opportunity.

The interior of the cathedral is lovely, especially the marble floors and stained glass windows…read more There isn't any printed information or leaflets. They have an audio guide but you have to use your phone. I didn't have good reception on my mobile so I wasn't able to get any information about the church or art. I did really enjoy the crypt, so I am glad I got the ticket that included access to that.

Siena was one of our stops on our all day bus tour through Tuscany and I'm so happy it was!…read more We grabbed aperitivos and enjoyed the sun set while people watching. It's such a vibrant city center. Really fun place to relax after a long day.

Siena was a day trip we made from Florence, about 1:20 by train. I was still under the weather, not…read moreup to making the early train, so we had to make do with arriving in Siena by late morning. We were looking forward to Piazza del Campo, cited by our son as one of the highlights of his Italy trip, and we weren't disappointed. Piazza del Campo is a wide open, curving square, slanting downwards toward the historic City Hall, and is just beautiful. We joined the throngs of other tourists sitting/lying on the high part of the square people watching. Fortunately, a nearby Gelateria offered up our gelato du jour for people watching sustenance! We could have stayed here for hours... This was once an open field (hence, "Campo" or "field"), situated outside the city walls. The City Hall tower, which dominates the square, can be climbed by the ambitious. The City Hall also houses a Civic Museum. We spent most of the day strolling through Siena, a town with a truly medieval feel throughout. Many of the streets are fairly steep, and made things somewhat problematic for me as I was recovering from a knee injury. But I'm glad we were able to visit here, and if there's a next time would love to stay longer.

We did a wine tasting with Laura - she was amazing. Super knowledgeable and tailored to our…read moreinterest. She is funny, friendly and her English was on point. The tasting meal was divine - it was far more elaborate - and delicious than expected. The tasting room is elegant- furnished with antiques and vintage photos. Laura made sure we were well taken care of. We loved her sense of humor and how easily she engaged with us. Well worth your time and money. Highly recommend Laura as the host /guide and the winery.

I have been to Siena twice. On my second trip, I visited for Palio. The day of the festivities, I…read moremade my way to Torre del Mangia to do some sightseeing. Located in Piazza del Campo, the center and heart of Siena, Torre del Mangia is one of the most prominent symbols of Siena. It's one of TripAdvisor's most popular attractions in Siena and for good reason. Snap a few pictures of the tower from the outside and then walk inside. It's free to check out the courtyard area where you'll be able to take a really cool photo of the tower from the interior. You'll know what I mean when you're there. After you're done checking out the courtyard, for a fee, you can buy a ticket to go up the tower and get some panoramic views of the city. If they happen to be sold out, you can also get some scenic views by checking out the Duomo. Torre del Mangia is a must visit while in Siena!

10/28/2013 My…read morehusband and I woke up early and went to the City Wall Tower as our first stop of the day. Good thing we went early in the morning, as we were able to get some sparkling nice views from the top. Once you climb the 330 steps to the top (the staircase is rather narrow in some areas, so they will ask you to check in your bags about 1-2 flights up). This is definitely one of the best views of Siena and Tuscany. Well worth the 8€ per person. We were able to stay at the top for a good 20-30 minutes to take some photos of the beautiful Siena landscape + look out into the hills of Tuscany. GORGEOUS!! We think the best time to go is in the morning when the sun is not out in full force, and the fog is leaving the hills...so you can get some clear photos. :) We loved our experience and definitely recommend it. We know of others who went to the top of the Duomo, so that's another option as well; but we didn't do that one since we already went to the top of the City Tower. Either way, I'm sure the views are great. :)

Absolutely worth the short walk down to this fountain! Amazing views of Siena and the churches…read morealong the stairs. The fountain is the oldest and most enduring waterworks of Siena. Located below the Cathedral you will enjoy the quiet and sound of the running water. An absolute must see to feel the city.

Supposedly in existence since the late 1000s, the Fontebranda was at once one of Siena's lifelines,…read moreproviding usable water and a place for those to congregate and gossip at. In that sense, the Fontebranda is more of a giant outdoor tank than a "fountain", but still an impressive one if you consider how well it's lasted through the ages, its water still brimming with a lifegiving turquoise color. It's also worth noting that this particular attraction is a bit of a hidden gem and at the bottom of Siena's hillside, away from all the major tourist attractions and Siena's center. Still, it's fairly accessible from the city center by a series of escalators that keep going down and down until you hit the bottom. Although there wasn't much to do around here other than look at the "fountain", I appreciated the solitude and respite and history the area provided from Siena's more well known and more festive areas.

Had the privilege of staying in their apartment which was attached to their house. Had wine…read moretastings and olive oil tastings. They have different types of Chianti for you to try. Loved all of them and the olive oil is the best!! They are incredibly warm and friendly. We got to see them use what is left after pressing the grapes for wine and use it for grappa. They work so hard! It's a magical place and if you can stop here, I highly recommend it, the views are amazing!

Where do I begin? This must have been the best part of our tour/day/time in Florence. We arrived a…read morelittle late and were given a fairly quick tour of the winery. I mean, I do understand though, because there's only so much that can be said after both parties have done enough wine tours to last a lifetime. We were told to stop and enjoy the view of Chianti and our wine educator even took a couple shots for us! It was spectacularly beautiful, even in the winter. Our light lunch consisted of: prosciutto & salami, bruschetta (made fresh), pate on bread, truffle on bread, a light salad, pasta (you had 4 options, the hubs chose the spicy and I chose the truffle), local cheeses and a homemade jam and tasting of balsamic vinegar, biscotti, and wine pairings with it all! Our wine educator came by with every serving to explain the wine and the food, all while we sat by a cozy fire-burning stove. Everything was absolutely delicious: hubs said his spicy pasta was the best pasta he had on the entire trip and I might say the same for my truffle pasta. *Winter is slow for them, while in their prime season (Mar-Oct), they see about 4,000 people (they said its nuts and we truly get to enjoy the vineyard, and the employees do as well). In fact, it was literally just the hubs & I for our light lunch and wine tasting. *They ship to all over the world, so no need to worry about lugging those bottles home! *We ended up having to pay for the lunch ourselves (it should have been taken care of by our private tour person). That ended up being 35 Euros for the hubs and 40 Euros for myself (since I got the truffle).

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!

This is a must-do when in the area! Lots of little shops, restaurants, and cafes. It's a really…read morenice feeling to be here, with a great view of the valley below. There are a few wineries nearby, 5-10 minute drive, to visit. Parking is located at the bottom of the hill, or you might be able to get one of the few spots near the gate.