Siena or Florence??!

[kmck82]

Hi, myself and my friends are attending a wedding in Italy in July and decided to stay an extra night and go somewhere different.
We will be coming from Fontebussi and flying from Pisa the next day so need something close to both.
We are all 20 somethings so somewhere kinda lively would be great - it will be my 27th birthday that night so looking for somewhere memorable too.
I have looked into Siena and it looks lovely but not sure its the place for five 20 somethings???
Your advice would be appreciated.
Kate

[Travadvice360]

Hi Kate,

I would suggest Siena as there is always a lot going on in terms of nightlife. Local musicians play in Siena on the weekends and there is always live music being played at the Piazza del Campo.

Some clubs that play live music as well are as follows:

- Barone Rosso which has live music varying from blues to pop.
- The Tea Room which has jazz and cabaret.
- The Dublin Post, Piazza Gramsci, which is an Irish theme pub which has Irish and local bands.

[kmck82]

Great - thats fantastic thanks a million. We have not booked hotels yet - we want something cheap and cheerful as close to everything as possible. Alot of the hotels say "outside city walls" - should we stay in the walls or outside??! Thanks for your help! K

[Travadvice360]

The reason I would say to stay inside the city walls is that you don't have to drive around as you're close to the nightlife. Otherwise, you have to look into renting a car or public transport.

I can suggest the Albergo La Perla hotel which is located in Indipendenza Square near 'Piazza del Campo'. The rooms are small but clean and rates start at $44 but do check with them before booking.

[kmck82]

Thanks again - the girls want to rent a car to drive from Fontebussi to Siena and then back to Pisa instead of getting the train. If we stay inside the walls, is there somewhere to park the car? I saw from the website that there are no cars allowed inside the walls.

[VacationBuddy]

Hi Kate,

You can park inside the city walls, it all depends which way you are approaching the city:

- Driving from the West side of the city

You need to follow the signs to Porta San Marco where you'll find a mult-storey lot.

- Driving from the North of the city

The northern outskirts of Siena is the Bermuda Triangle of Italy for us. There are a few different ways you can approach Siena from the north. These directions are for coming from the north, from Gaiole or Pianella on highway 408, to Siena.

Take highway 408 to Siena. When you are just outside Siena, you go under the railway tracks. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit (a right turn) in the direction of centro or Porta Ovile.

At the next roundabout, take about 8th exit, the road that goes up the hill (a left turn). Follow this road until you see Porta Ovile.

You cannot go in through the porta, but take a right just before the porta. Follow this road to the first set of lights. Take a left and then an immediate left at the next set of lights.

These are close together and are really like a hairpin switchback. Follow the signs to P P. Ovile - the P has a cap on it indicating covered parking. Basically you go straight. (Turning left at the big intersection takes you on the road to the Fortress, where there is also a parking lot.)

You pass Hotel Minerva on your left. After the hotel take a left (there is a sign) and follow this road to the parking garage on your right. When you leave the parking garage you continue on this road which puts you out through the Porta Ovile.

- Parking on the South Side of Siena

Driving south on the motorway from Poggibonsi, take the south exit, marked Porta Tufi, then follow the parking signs to " P" Il Campo.

It takes you right to a huge parking garage, always plenty of room and a 5 minute walk to the center. Just as easy leaving the city as well.

Hope this helps
Vacationbuddy

[Travadvice360]

Hi Kate,

Traffic is strictly limited inside the city walls unless you have special authorization from your hotel to park inside the city walls.

I would say parking near the city walls has become quite impossible. Most of the free lots such as near the fortezza are taken up by locals early in the day throughout the day and the only parking available has been metered. It is around €1.50 an hour or €47 a day!

There is a free parkling lot next to the fortezza and a pay lot on the other side of the fortezza next to the La Lizza park; there is also a pay lot nearby at the nearby soccer stadium.

However these pay lots are unavailable on market Wednesdays and soccer Sundays. Parking along the street next to the fortezza is free, although if you park down some of the sidestreets it is metered. Check first.

There are also pay parking garages/lots at Porta Tufi (signposted "Il Campo Parking"). It is a 15-20 minute walk to the Piazza del Campo. And another pay lot at Porta San Marco, as well as metered parking on the street leading into Porta Romana.

There are parking garages by Porta Ovile (metered), depending upon where you're going inside the walls. Either way check with your hotel or landlord to see what your parking options may be.