Santa Maria della Scala Tours and Activities

Take in the fast-paced spectacle of Siena's famous Palio horse race with this package tour. Enjoy a guided tour of this Tuscan gem before finding a spot in the Piazza del Campo to watch the exciting race. Dine in style in a restaurant right on the piazza after the race.

Siena is a treasure trove of historical, artistic, religious and cultural riches all to be discovered. The best way to do it is on foot, admiring the changes to the town over the centuries and enjoying the spectacular scenery and curious particulars. With an authorized guide you will be able to appreciate the major tourist attractions like Piazza del Campo, the true heart of the town, the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), the Cathedral and the majestic Basilica of San Domenico. There will also be no lack of references to the great noble families, such as the Piccolomini, Tolomei and Salimbeni, and their palazzos, to the great tradition of the Siena Palio, but also to the stories of pilgrimage and saintliness that distinguish the town. The walk continues with a visit to the Cathedral that preserves the treasures of artists like Nicola Pisano, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Donatello and Gianlorenzo Bernini, besides its marvelous marble floor, which is a unique example in the history of art.

Visit Siena’s Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala with a prebooked entrance ticket, and explore the classical museum at your own pace. Showcasing the city’s artistic heritage, the complex boasts several sites that appeal to all; check out the Art Museum for Children, the Archaeological Museum in the underground chambers, a photo library, and several chapels. Just select your preferred entrance time when you book, then browse the museum’s collections at your leisure.

Learn about Saint Catherine of Siena, the patron Saint of Italy and Europe, on a 2-hour tour of her hometown. Visit landmarks such as the birthplace of Saint Catherine in Siena, and sacred sites related to her life. Your guide shows you where she worked, studied, and was buried, and shares commentary about her importance.

During your visit in Santa Maria della Scala you will discover the history of this immense hospital located in front of the Cathedral, founded between the 9th and 11th centuries, which was the hospital of Siena until the nineties of the 20th century. You will begin your visit in the Old Sacristy, where you will admire beautiful frescoes and the precious relics that attracted pilgrims to visit this building. The hall “Sala del Pellegrinaio” was the place that welcomed pilgrims and afterwards became a hospital ward. The frescoes in this room tell the history of the construction of the Hospital and its activities and show the objects that were used, the clothes that people wore and the architecture of the hospital. The guide will lead you then to discover the original marbles of Fonte Gaia made in the 15th century, in Pz del Campo there is a 19th-century copy. Finally, you will visit the Oratory, where the St.Catherine rested and prayed after having dedicated herself to works of charity.

2 magic hours to discover the city with Your children! The tour is a treasure hunt, following one of our greatest artist, the goldsmith "Guccio di Mannaia", and helping him recover a stolen treasure... Children and adults will learn city's history having fun and being enriched by anecdotes and legends from the medieval era. An unique chance to haunt down all you want know about Siena and the world the city was developed in!! Magic is hiding in plain sight....