When we were visited Siena in 2006 we had a heck of a time parking. Finally after driving around in the spots recommended by slowtravelers (stadium, fortezza, station parking garage) we finally found lots of spots outside of the walls at the base of the cliff. We walked a bit and came upon the set of escalators which took us up through the cliffs and walls and into the historical centre itself.

I believe that we ended up near San Francesco. It was a short walk (after a fortifying stop at Nannini for pastries and coffee) to the Campo.

Does anyone know what parking lot this is? I've searched the site and couldn't find my answer.

We hope to visit Siena again in a few weeks and this was a convient spot to park.

Thanks!

nope, I do that in Perugia so would also love to know about it in Siena!

I now park around the Fortezza, but take the back way in, skipping the hills!
I go in near the back park... where the bus stops are.. then come right out where the Monte dei Paschi bank is on the main street.. right before Nannini!

"Parcheggio San Francesco: dislocato in via Baldassarre Peruzzi, ha una capienza di 270 posti, è facilmente raggiungibile da viale Toselli o da viale Sardegna ed è collegato al centro storico dalla scala mobile che sbocca nei pressi di piazza San Francesco."

Parking San Francesco: located on via Baldassare Peruzzi, has a capacity of 270 spaces, is easily reached from viale Toselli or viale Sardegna and is connected to the escalator that comes out close to piazza San Francesco.

Map Here I believe. I also have used this lot. Also, liked to from our page on Parking in Siena, this Map of Siena parking

There are two that I am aware at, one at Porta Fontebrande that comes out near the Bapistry, The other I seem to remember is not far from Porta Ovile - it might be the one on Via Peruzzi here.

TimW

WARNING- the area around the San Prospero side of the FOrtezza is ZTL (cameras and all) and the back of the Fortezza is also ZTL for certain older cars (should not be a problem for a rental).

I do not recommend the San Francesco parking lot mainly because unless you are specifically going to that area, it is easy to wander accidentely into the Siena Bermuda Triangle.

I HIGHLY recommend using the Fontebranda/Santa Caterina parking lot. This is found easily and with a short little walk up hill to the escalators, you end up on the side of the Duomo so perfectly central to touring the city.

I am working on a google map to help what will be my explination coming from different areas and will post when done.

HERE is a link to get to the parking lot of Fonte Branda coming from the main highway (Tangienziale/Raccordo Siena Firenze) linking Siena and Florence. Basically, you need to get off the highway at the Siena Ovest exit, take the offramp keeping to the right, merge onto the SS73 (you can only go right merging or left) Follow this road over the highway where you come upon a not round roundabout. Follow it around and go straight on Strada di Peschaia. Right turn on Esterna di Fontebranda and follow the signs to the parking lot. Then just folow the signs to the escalator (scala mobile).

Purely a selfish thought - but can we please stop discussing Siena as I am suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms after 4 weeks there ending earlier this month. :-)

TimW

I'm going to be staying at a hotel outside the walls, just between Porta Tufi and Porta Romana.

It's suppose to be about 1.5 km from Piazza del Campo.

There's suppose to be some kind of bus service going towards the center but I want to go there after the sun sets, which at the end of may is close to 10 PM.

Is there some better option to park closer (even paid parking) that late at night to avoid the 1.5 km hike each way?

quote:

Parking San Francesco: located on via Baldassare Peruzzi, has a capacity of 270 spaces, is easily reached from viale Toselli or viale Sardegna and is connected to the escalator that comes out close to piazza San Francesco.

I have a killer sense of direction BUT usually get lost in Siena. Since learning about parking in San Francisco I can always find my way and have always had a parking place.... even the day of the Palio!!

christina~
Thank you for the link. That is one map that I will print out and take along.

quote:

Siena Bermuda Triangle.

Now... explain this!

quote:

Originally posted by bugalu:
Siena Bermuda Triangle.

quote:

Now... explain this!

I think the reason it is so easy to get lost is that many people who come from the south of Siena take the Siena Bettole highway and towards the end there is a sign that says Siena Est or Tangienziale Siena Firenze. Everyone it seems takes the Siena Est offramp which gets them to the industrial area, the train station, the hospital but to get to the walled city it gets very confusing. If coming from the south (even from places like Serre di Rapolano, Asciano, etc) take the Tangenziale exit and then get off that at the Siena Ovest exit and follow the direction to the Fontebranda parking lot. The other problem is the Stadium/Fortezza parking that so many used to recommend which is totall confusing if you don't know where to go and as I wrote earlier, has ZTL zones in it. Stick to FOntebranda and you won't have a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Cristina:
Siena Bermuda Triangle

That explains it. I thought maybe it was just me.

We were staying in a villa outside Siena and got lost every time we tried to navigate around the city. One day we even ended up inside the walls (I have no idea how) and as we rounded a corner and passed the duomo, I knew we were in big trouble! We always managed to get on the right road eventually, but I never knew how and couldn't repeat it the next time.

I knew it was the Bermuda Triangle!

quote:

That explains it. I thought maybe it was just me.

Oh no, it's everyone!

I'm usually a good navigator, but the first time we drove to Siena (from the Arezzo direction) it was a series of wrong turns and confusion. We didn't manage to get to the parking that I was aiming for but ended up in Santa Caterina by chance (and a last minute scream in my husbands ear).

We were very happy with its location and have managed to navigate our way there again (less screaming the next time)

FYI, Fontebranda is the lot in Santa Caterina just in case some know it as that name.

I love it - Siena Bermuda Triangle - now I can explain in more detail how, on our first trip to Siena, we seemed to be driving in circles. On our second trip, we were visiting our daughter who was studying in Siena and she was our navigator in and out of the city. Tho, to give David credit, I think he had figured it out by the end of that visit. Of course, now we have a GPS who travels with us.

Well, we must have been lucky. When we were there in '04, we drove from the north (near Castellina) and had absolutely no problem. We just followed the signs and must have parked at the place Cristina recommended. We had no trouble at all, and I was even using a walker then (pre-hip surgery)!

One of my favorite Sienna shots from that time is below.

Ann

Thanks for all the incredible information everyone. Christina, I would like to know if the Fontebranda is also the parking you would recommend for those coming from the north (Chianti) and if not, then where?

When I stayed with a woman while studying in Siena in an apartment off of Via di Fontanella, I seem to remember the parking lot at the end of the road (which is not a far walk to the Campo) being a popular parking lot. Is this another option or is this parking lot always full?

Yep latinta. I live in the Chianti and that is the lot I use. Just hop on the Raccordo/Tangenziale Siena Firenze at Siena Nord going in the direction of Arezzo and follow the direction in the Google Map above.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cristina,

Girasoli, the porta tufi lot is the one you mention and it is good, especially for those who are coming from the Montalcino area BUT the walk back at the end of the day can be difficult for some.

quote:

Originally posted by Cristina:
Yep latinta. I live in the Chianti and that is the lot I use. Just hop on the Raccordo/Tangenziale Siena Firenze at Siena Nord going in the direction of Arezza and follow the direction in the Google Map above.

Looked at your Google Map and had to zoom in and out to get the bearings.

Raccordo is the main Siena-Firenze highway? And the exit would be Siena Ovest?

Is Fontebranda the outdoor lot where the tour buses park? The buses drop off people on a lot adjacent to the walls as I recall.