Private
3 hrs
Explore the picturesque medieval streets and alleyways of the beautiful Tuscan city of Siena with an expert guide.
Famous for the dramatic Palio horse race that takes place biannually in the central Piazza del Campo, Siena dates back to the 9th century BC as an Etruscan settlement. Today, Siena’s 17 historic ‘contrade’ or districts extend out from the Piazza, which is home to the town hall, Palazzo Pubblico, and the Torre del Mangia.
Walk down atmospheric alleyways, onto sunny piazzas, and pass by many gothic churches. Stop in at Basilica di San Domenico to see its majestic interior and the relics of Saint Catherine.
Your walking tour of the city culminates with skip-the-line access to the Cathedral of Siena – famous for its stunning facade, marbled floors, and intricate mosaics with masterpieces by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Bernini.
Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian
Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)
Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English
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Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions
Siena is a charming city that rivaled Florence for its wealth, beauty, and artistry in the medieval period. In the 16th century, Florence conquered Siena and it was absorbed into the Duchy of Tuscany. Today it is famous for its medieval architecture, brick houses, magnificent churches and basilicas, and winding alleyways leading to sunny piazzas.
Your private tour begins in the central Piazza del Campo, where you’ll meet your local guide in front of Fonte Gaia, the monumental fountain with beautiful friezes.
The Piazza del Campo was constructed around the 13th-14th century during Siena’s Golden Age of art and architecture. It hosts the famousPalio horse race twice a year on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August. Il Palio is a dramatic bareback horse race in which jockeys from 10 of the 17 contrade or districts compete for victory.
The square is surrounded by the medieval Torre del Mangia, which boasts fabulous views over the city and surrounding countryside, and the grand Palazzo Pubblico which serves as the town hall.
From here, the 17 districts of Siena fan out. You’ll adventure down quiet alleys, and charming streets, pass by atmospheric gothic churches, and enjoy the friendly atmosphere created by the waiters standing outside their trattorias, and the chattering thrum of passers-by.
You’ll see the thick city walls and intimidating iron gates, pass the famous Headquarters of Monti dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in Europe, and stop to look inside the imposing Basilica di San Domenico. This medieval gothic church is also known locally as Santa Caterina as it houses the relics of Saint Catherine of Siena.
Lastly, enjoy skip-the-line access to Siena’s Duomo – a truly magnificent cathedral built of dramatic white and black marble, gothic spires, and a vast bell tower called the Facciatone. Inside you’ll marvel at its intricate golden mosaics, marbled floors, spectacular dome, and impressive art by three of Italy’s most famous artists: Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini.
LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here.
When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.
Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.
By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.
