The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation’s most visited tourist destination, especially during Palio di Siena. The best known place is Piazza del Campo.

Siena, together with the cities of Pisa and Florence, creates triangle of the most visited cities in Tuscany. There are lots of travel agencies that organise trips for tourists to those three cities. The best option how to get there is probably via plane to airport Galileo Galilei in Pisa.

What to see in Siena

• The Piazza del Campo, piazza at the centre of the city, where Palio di Siena takes place twice a year
• The Palazzo Pubblico, Siena’s City Hall with Torre di Mangia tower, from whose top you can see a beautiful panorama of the countryside of Siena.
• The Duomo, Siena’s magnificent black and white Italian Romanesque cathedral including the Libreria Piccolomini, Baptistery, and an attached Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
• The Pinacoteca, full of Sienese painting from the city’s Medieval heyday.
• The Palazzo Salimbeni, built in 1472, is the world headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the major banking corporation which has a hand in much of the economic and cultural life of the city.
• The house where St. Catherine of Siena was born is just a few blocks from the duomo. This 14th century mystic is one of the principal patron saints of Italy.

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Parma Baptisterium, Italy by Philip Schäfer

Up until the middle ages, the town of Parma was regularly attacked, plundered and destroyed. There were many such occasions in which the entire town was rebuilt from the ground up. However, there are still a number of beautiful sites in this small Italian town that dates back to the 11th century. The most famous attraction in Parma is a pink marble tower which can be found in the town’s center. Taking more than 60 years to construct, the Parma Baptisterium has become a symbol of the city. Shortly after its completion, the tower had been damaged by an earthquake requiring it to be rebuilt.

Anyone who visits Parma will have to make their way over to the Teatro Regio which is the city’s own opera house. Arturo Toscanini, the famous conductor was born in Parma and the Theater is now a museum which is dedicated to the life and genius of Toscanini.

Of course we would not have parmesan cheese if it were not for the town of Parma. The town is also known for its special ham recipes too. Today, Parma stands as the European Association for Food Safety’s official home. One cannot go to Parma without trying the many local delicacies which are world renowned. While the town may not have a lot in architectural attractions, the cheese and hams of Parma are an attraction in their own right.

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Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by Chris Yunker

The castle is surrounded by a moat that is filled with water fed from the Po River. The castle dates back to the 14th century and features a number of towers, medieval walls and of course a draw bridge. In the basement of the Castle there is an old prison which is open to the public. While many parts of the castle today are open to the public, since the building still serves as the political seat of the city, there are parts that are non-accessible.

Not too far away from the fort is the city’s cathedral. It is here that you will find the Museo della Cattedrale which houses many beautiful tapestries, various manuscripts as well as the 1408 sculpture of Madonna. Since the city has been the home for many famous artists, there are many fine collections to view in the museum.

In 1492, the Duke of Ferrara planned an extension to the city which can be found along the northern edges of the town. The initial goal of the Duke was to create a very tasteful district in the city dedicated to the Renaissance. In this extension, you will find a number of fine attractions as well as the Palazzo dei Diamanti which is a museum today that houses many works from local artists.

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