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Via di Croce Fiorentina, 89, Siena, 53011, Italy
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Lovely fresco in small church in Chiocciola
The main altar of the cathedral
View of Palazzo Pubblico
AC Siena home crowd
We are planning to go to Sienna for the race on Aug 16th, 2011. It will be a present for my wife, so I am trying to get good seats on the periphery, not just be stuck standing in the center in the crowd for hours.
The most inportant question that I have is: how do I buy tickets and know that they are legitimate? Are there tickets issued by one central authority for the building around the plaza? Or do the owners of those buildings do it themselves? Are there trusted middlemen?
Which days should we plan on being there? It appears that there are at least 3 preparatory races prior to the main one, plus banquets and parties to go to.
Any other advice such as good hotels, restaurants, best contrada, are much appreciated.
Hi Harmonious,
I was at the Palio many years ago but stood in the crowd so what I say here is something found on an Italian website about the Palio. Basically says NO tickets are sold to see Palio from the crowd.
To see it from balconies, terraces etc, says there is no coordinated ticket sale office -- you purchase tickets from owners of those balconies, and that it's not easy. Also must be done in advance, etc...
That website had lots of useful info so I'm copy/pasting it here in case you read Italian.
BUT I found another site about the Palio, in English, by an outfit well accredited in the U.S. There's a place at the top inviting you to click for ticket purchase and you'll see good info in there. Personally, if I wanted to get tickets for a balcony view of Palio, I'd trust that outfit. You can check their standing with the Better Business Bureau prior to purchase if you wish.
http://www.ilpalio.org/domande.htm (the site in Italian)
http://www.initaly.com/info/palio/paliotix.htm (the site from the U.S.)
Lots of time left for next year in Siena but this needs to be prepared ahead of time. Good luck and have a good time!
If it doesn't have to be the palio in Sienna, check out VT member Trekki's pages about Gubbio. She has lots of information about the festivities there.
The only seats that can be purchased in advance are for the bleachers. Personally, I wouldn't bother - it's much more fun to stand with the
Sienese in the piazza.
If you want to watch from a balcony, then you will need to speak with the owners of the surrounding buildngs. However, even if you can make contact, I doubt your enquiries will bear fruit.
Most owners invite olose friends and family to join them on the balconies.
The view from these balconies is generally reserved for the priveleged few who know the right people.
Siena has a great medieval look. The city has kept its original look since the 14th century. In its streets made of brick and stones, among the high buildings, the courtyards, in the narrow alleys and squares, you will sense a sort of ancient atmosphere, which makes Siena so charming.
Sienna had always been divided in different city parts. Each part had it's own flag. Now still it's usual to celebrate the different flag areas every year. We were lucky enough to see this celebration (flagwaving, music and dancing in the streets). Before the flagcelebration is done there usually is a horse race on Piazza del Campo. The horse of the winning flagarea is honoured on Piazza del Campo after the race. Unfortunately we missed the race.
Walking home at midnight, means that the streets are almost empty and you will get a very good feeling of the town, as it was in medieval times.
All of these pics of "Siena by night " are ment to encourage people to make a quick stop-over at night, in case that they are in Tuscany, and wonder, if it is worth to walk through town at night or not... NO special dresscode is required !
We found Il Bargello while strolling through the streets of Siena. When the tummy starts to rumble, we start to look for someplace to grab a bite. They had sandwiches and salads that really hit the spot.
You can get your food to go or they have a seating area inside.
At the lowest point of Piazza del Campo stands the high and mighty Palazzo Comunale, also known as Palazzo Pubblico. Completed in 1342, this imposing medieval structure continues to serve its original purpose - as Siena's town hall. It also houses Museo Civico showcasing some fine works of the Sienese school - something which I didn't get to see due to large number of tourists at the time.
If a visit to the Museo Civico is not possible, do at least visit the courtyard, which is free to the public. From there, you can have view the Torre del Mangia from a different perspective - which make for good photo subjects.
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Address: Via di Croce Fiorentina, 89, Siena, 53011, Italy
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