Orientation

The first thing you should know is that the train station is down a steep hill fairly far north of the town center. Exit the station and follow the signs to the bottom of the parking garage, where you can catch a bus to the centro—look at the digital display board to see which bus is on its way and whether it’s going where you need it to. That being said, try to arrive in Siena by bus instead of by rail. Almost all intercity buses arrive in Piazza Gramsci, in the northwest of the centro. The upper part of this piazza opens up onto Luna Park and then onto the Fortezza Medicea. Walk away from the park to head deeper into the centro, where you will soon see many Il Campo and Duomo signs, which are the best tools for navigating Siena’s labyrinth of curling dead ends and steep alleyways. Learn your way home from the Campo and these signs will be your best friends. Meanwhile, Siena’s many churches form a sort of holy compass: San Francesco is northeast, the Pinacoteca is south, and San Domenica is west.