Tag Archives: Siena
siena-piazza-del-campo

Siena 101

by Melanie on 22. Jun, 2010 in Siena, Tuscany

On the other side of the Chianti countryside, some 35 miles south of Florence, you will find Siena, a Tuscan town rife with tradition and mood. WHERE: Medieval Siena is best known as the site of the Palio, a twice-yearly, bareback horserace that takes place in the wide, shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. The race, which [...]

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Rome, Siena, Sardinia, and more

Rome, Siena, Sardinia, and more

by Melanie on 24. Aug, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Festivals and Events, Lazio, Museums and Exhibits, Rome, Sardinia, Siena, Travel Articles, Tuscany

We hope you’ve had an enjoyable August. Obviously, we took a little time off for rest and relaxation (and a move!), so there’s been little time to fill you in on some of the latest Italy travel news. Here’s a recap: Some people in Rome think it’s a good idea to create a Disneyland-like theme [...]

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What’s On in Italy: August 2008

What’s On in Italy: August 2008

by Melanie on 07. Aug, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Festivals and Events, Lazio, Museums and Exhibits, Rome, Siena, Tuscany, Umbria

Lots of summer festivals are winding up this month. Then, after Ferragosto on August 15, most Italians head for the hills…or the beach. Stay tuned for a full slate of fall events beginning next month. Puccini Festival. This festival in Torre del Lago (near Lucca, Tuscany) is a must for opera buffs. It runs through [...]

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The Best Chiantis

The Best Chiantis

by Melanie on 08. Jul, 2008 in Destinations, Florence, Food and Wine, Siena, Tuscany

In my opinion, Financial Times columnist Jancis Robinson provides some of the best, most accessible coverage of wine anywhere. This past weekend, in the FT Life & Arts Section, Robinson looks at the 2006 vintage of Chianti Classico as “something to celebrate.” Apparently, this is the first year that “white wine grapes have been outlawed” from [...]

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What’s On in Italy: July 2008

What’s On in Italy: July 2008

by Melanie on 01. Jul, 2008 in Destinations, Festivals and Events, Florence, Lazio, Rome, Siena, Trentino Alto Adige, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto

As we noted today in an earlier post, tomorrow, July 2, will be the first of this year’s Palio races in Siena. But, that’s not all that’s happening in Italy this month. Here’s the rundown: Music and Performance Festivals: Roma Estate 2008 continues with various music, comedy, and sports events. Throughout July, Rome will also hold [...]

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Siena Ready For Tourists and the Palio

Siena Ready For Tourists and the Palio

by Melanie on 01. Jul, 2008 in Destinations, Festivals and Events, Out and About, Siena, Sports, Tuscany

According to TripAdvisor, by way of Italy Magazine, the Tuscan town of Siena ranks 5th among the most-visited cities in Europe. No doubt, one of its allures is the twice-annual Palio, which takes place on July 2 and August 16. This year’s first installment kicks off tomorrow (!) and you can watch a live feed [...]

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Best-Reviewed Hotels in Italy

Best-Reviewed Hotels in Italy

by Melanie on 25. Jan, 2008 in Accommodations

Yesterday we linked to reviews of a Naples hotel on Tripadvisor.com. Sites like Tripadvisor, Virtualtourist.com, and others have really taken off in the past couple of years as more and more travelers sign on to rant or rave about hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc. Indeed, these review sites are really giving magazine and guidebook writers a [...]

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And the winner is…

And the winner is…

by Melanie on 17. Aug, 2007 in Destinations, Festivals and Events, Siena, Tuscany

.flickr-photo { } .flickr-frame { float: left; text-align: center; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; } .flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Siena, Palio, originally uploaded by pedro prats. Contrada Leocorno won the second round of this year’s Palio. So they will have bragging rights until next July. Auguri! By the way, some spectators at the [...]

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One More Chance to See Siena’s Palio

One More Chance to See Siena’s Palio

by Melanie on 06. Jul, 2007 in Destinations, Festivals and Events, Siena, Tuscany

.flickr-photo { } .flickr-frame { float: left; text-align: center; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; } .flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } palio.siena, originally uploaded by muzungu. If you missed Siena’s Palio horserace, held on July 2, you are not out of luck. The Contrada dell’Oca, the winner of the first of this year’s races, has [...]

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Resolution: Italian Citizenship

Resolution: Italian Citizenship

by Melanie on 05. Jan, 2007 in Destinations, Siena, Tuscany

Did know that you can get honorary citizenship from the Terre di Siena (Siena’s provincial tourism board)? Citizenship entails signing a Sustainable Tourism charter. Here’s what the charter lists as an honorary citizen’s privileges: Receive full information about local activities in the community Receive detailed information that will allow you to select the very best of [...]

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