"Most of all I'd like to go back and hike down the road from Monte San Savino to Siena and pass through that countryside's vineyards and olive groves that I can still smell. I want to walk over those bluish hills of tufa that lead away as far as the eye can see to finally make out Siena on the horizon at sunset with its towers like some perfect Constantinople. I want to arrive at night, penniless and alone, sleep to some wellsprings and be the first to enter Piazza del Campo in the morning. The palm-frond shape seems like a hand offering up the highest achievement of humanity after ancient Greece"
(Albert Camus)
It's a city of unique artistic spectacularity, where time seems to be stopped and it is still possible to breathe magical atmospheres of the past. It is the city of the famous Palio, an event that represents itself the essence of life, passion and history of Siena, as far as of the wonderful monuments in Gothic and Renaissance style, characterized by the fusion of different materials, such as tuff, brick, travertine stone, pietra serena, splendid polychrome marble and wrought iron. Siena's museums offer visitors the XIV century masterpieces by Duccio di Boninsegna and the Sienese school, Iacopo della Quercia, Francesco di Giorgio, Beccafumi and Sodoma.
In Siena's province we find the typical hilly Tuscany, crossed by rows of tall cypress trees, with its winding up and down, cultivation and farms; but also the wellness of body and mind, thanks to the healty properties of the thermal springs (San Casciano dei Bagni, Chianciano Terme, Bagno Vignoni, Bagni San Filippo, to name a few).
Siena's cuisine is characterized by simple and savory tastes: from the bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil and garlic to crostini with meat and spleen, Sienese salami and cheeses, the "pici" (also called "spaghetti of the poor", prepared with flour and water, no eggs), Sienese pesto, prepared with tuff terragon, soup and meat dishes prepared with Chianina beef and game. Finally desserts of medieval origins, such as copate, cavallucci, panforte speziato, panpepato, ricciarelli and migliaccio.