Located on three hills, Siena stands at the centre of the Tuscan highlands, between the Arbia and Elsa Rivers, surrounded by wide vineyards, rustic homes, hamlets and castles, with quaint churches dotting the hills of Chianti, la Montagnola and the breathtaking landscape of Crete.
The she-wolf is the symbol of the city. A thriving city, Siena is split into 3 parts and 17 districts. It abounds in art, history, culture and architecture. Its most important monuments are located around Piazza del Campo, the civic hearth of the city, such as Palazzo d'Elci, Palazzo San Sedoni and Palazzo Chigi-Zondadari. Bounded by the Gaia River, it is the venue of the Palio delle Contrade, which is held twice a year and re-enacts the chivalrous competition proceded by costumed pageants.
Worth seeing is the Palazzo Pubblico with its annexed Torre del Mangia, the civic museum and the Baptistery, also known as "Pieve San Giovanni". In Piazza del Duomo, the religious centre, stands the cathedral with the Romanesque-Gothic facade and the magnificent bell tower.