Driving to Siena this Saturday from Umbria just for the day. Any suggestions on must sees?? Also parking?

Duomo and surrounding area is great. The Duomo in Siena is one of best churches in Italy. Il Compo, the main piazza, is nearby. We went to a deli and bought sandwitches and wine and had a picnic in Il Compo. Great atmosphere. No problem drinking wine there either. The deli owner told me, "Senor, this is Italy, not the USA. You can drink anywhere you want." After that, Siena is great for just wandering the streets. There is plenty to do and see. Have fun.

Parking is tough. There are spots just outside the walls at one of the "Portas" (ports of entry). Driving inside the city is not encouraged.

A follow-up on parking in Siena, I found this Slow Travel web site:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/parking_siena.htm

After driving around Siena for what seemed like hours and passing the same spot at least three times, we finally found a place to park but it was not where we wanted to be. So before we went to Siena again, I asked my rental agent, (Martina at ABV Italia in Vagliagli) the best way to get there and to park. She recommended the Porta Francesco. You take the escalators up, up, up and come out near enough to all the important places. Great!

I second the suggestion of the Duomo and il campo. There are some nice frescos in the town hall which is on il campo.

If you want to see the mosaics on the floor of the duomo, there is one which you can light up by putting a euro in the "vending machine" close to it. You can see much better if you do that. Most of the beautiful floor is covered to protect it, but there are a couple of spots where you can see the mosaics.

The Duomo and its mosaics are very, very beautiful. You might also want to stop into the library of the Duomo, which is also an art treasury.

Across the campo from the Duomo is what was once a foundling? hospital. It's recently become a museum, I believe, and is also worth seeing.

M

It is Ospedale di Santa Maria della Scala. I also enjoyed a visit to Pasticcerie Nannini. If you are energetic and not afraid of heights, climb to the top of the torre.