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Siena's tourist office: Terre di Siena
Duomo facade
Baptismal Font
The compound attracts devotees worldwide
I would like to take a day time train from Nice to Siena in September 2008. I cannot find train timetables that cover this journey on the internet. Has anybody done this trip recently, and where do I find information? Also, I will hire a car in Siena. Are there any car hire firms operating from Siena railway station? Any other tips? Thanks for your help
The Italian rail timetables can be found at
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
If you enter Nice and Siena, and your date of travel, you will see that there are a number of possible trains. I must admit, that I tried several times, and couldn't always get a solution - the site can be temperamental. When you can get it to work, you can find out the ticket prices by clicking on buy at the the right of the screen.
If you just want to look at times and train connections, go to www.raileurope.com It is very user friendly. The downfall is...it's more expensive. I use it as a quick tool to find out times etc. You can always price compare. Believe it or not my Thalys ticket was cheaper through them, rather than Thayls.
Depending on how much time you have...I would take a budget airline flight. There are so many that are cheaper than the train and get you there a lot quicker. If you need a specific one, email me and I will find out exactly which one goes that route.
I always use www.bahn.de to check timetables as this german site is very use friendly. I have found previously that timetables are posted around 60 days only before date of travel. You can choose a closer date for the same time and day if you want an idea of departure times etc.
It will be a long day trip and there seems to be two main options, one a 9.20hr trip with 4 train changes and the other longer at 10.5hrs with three changes (but on more premium type trains - Eurocity, Eurostar Italia etc which is more expensive)
1. Nice-Ventimiglia-Genova Piazza Principe-Pisa Centrale-Empoli-Siena. (9.20hrs)
2. Nice Ville-Ventimiglia-
Sorry runaway finger... Post continues.
2. Nice Ville-Milano Centrale-Florence SMN-Siena (10.5hrs)
When checking timetables note that some services do not run every day.
I've done the Nice-Genoa-Pisa-Florence leg of your planned trip but I took the bus from Florence to Siena as I wanted to arrive closer to the old town centre.
The train station in Siena is on the outskirts I think.
The bahn.de site in English is my first choice for train times across Eruope:
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/international/englisch/international_guests.shtml
although it only gives fares originating in Germany.
For French trains/fares you can look at www.scnf.com
Siena station is some way outside the town centre (about 1/2 km, I think...enough for people to get a bus, anyway).
This café might be the most famous one in Siena as it is run by a very popular family, the family of Gianna and Alessandro Nannini. They have excellent sweets, cookies, panforte or chocolates. I went inside, took a look at the delicious offer and was amazed by the exclusive interior and the special atmosphere of an expensive delicacies-shop.
While visiting Siena do not remain just in the ancient town but tour around and you’ll discover magnificent villas and gardens
Among others, very close to Siena travelling along the chianti way you may find the recently restored parks of Villa di Geggiano or Villa di Monaciano where to the beauty and tranquillity of the Chianti countryside you may add the romantic atmosphere. Sometimes you'll need to make a phone call in advance to check visiting time but very often it is Ok to just stop the car and ask. It will be open.
There's an autostrada highway direct from Florence (it has no route number; follow the green autostrada signs toward Siena), or you can take the more scenic routes, down the old Via Cassia SS2 or the Chiantigiana SS222 through the Chianti. From Rome get off the A1 north at the Val di Chiana exit and follow the SS326 west for 50 kilometers (31 miles). The SS223 runs 70 kilometers (43 miles) here from Grosetto in the Maremma. From Pisa take the highway toward Florence and exit onto the SS429 south at Empoli (100km/62 miles total).
Trying to drive into the one-way and pedestrian-zoned center isn't worth the massive headache. Siena parking (tel. 0577/22-871) is now coordinated, and all the lots charge 2,500L (1.30€, $1.25) per hour or 40,000L (21€, $20) per day--though almost every hotel has a discount deal with the nearest one for anywhere from 40% to 100% off--and are well signposted, with locations just inside city gates' Porta Tufi (the huge and popular Il Campo lot, though it's a 20-minute walk from the Campo!), Porta San Marco, and Porta Romana; under the Fortezza (another large lot) and around La Lizza park (the latter closed market Wed and soccer Sun); and at Piazza Amendola (just outside the northern gate Porta Camollia). Ask your hotel about parking when booking--many have deals with one of these lots to get you anywhere from 50% to 100% off. You can park for free a bit farther away around the unguarded back (northwest) side of the Fortezza all week long. There's also free parking outside the southeast end of town at Due Ponti (beyond Porta Pispini) and Coroncina (beyond Porta Romana); from both you can get a pollicino (minibus) into
The graceful Gothic town hall was started in 1297 and completed in 1342. At 102m (330ft), the bell tower, Torre del Mangia, is the second highest medieval tower ever built in Italy.
Although it continues in its ancient role as Siena's town hall, the Palazzo Pubblico's medieval rooms, some decorated with paintings of the Sienese School, are open to the public.
The bell tower entrance can be found in the palace's courtyard. There are 505 steps to the top, which offers wonderful views.
The beautiful facade (facing West) of Siena's Duomo is green, pink and white marble. Surprisingly, the church has another facade (facing East), at a lower lever - you must descend stairs, and there it is.
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Address: Via Banchi di Sopra 15, Siena, Tuscany, 53100, Italy
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