The city is spread across three hills in the heart of Tuscany, the compact city of Siena is a historic jewel centred around the sloping Piazza del Campo. Watched over by the glorious Palazzo Pubblico, the town is known worldwide for the famous Palio run, a horse race run around the piazza twice every summer.

Siena has managed to retain its quaint old-world charm to a remarkable degree. Its beautiful Gothic buildings include the city’s Duomo, arguably one of Italy’s most impressive Gothic cathedrals, as well as numerous other architectural treasures. The town is also home to a wealth of exceptional early Renaissance art. At the same time, the city bustles with modern life, and the 17 neighbourhoods into which the city was historically divided are each as captivating as the next.