Region

Siena

The city is built on three hills, maintaining intact its medieval appearance characterized by narrow winding streets and noble buildings in history.
Among the major monuments should be mentioned the Duomo andPiazza del Campo.
Events: Palio delle Contrade (2 July and 16 August), Festa di S. Caterina (29 April), Musical Weeks in Siena (September).

MONTERIGGIONI

A charming “borgata” or small town on the left bank of the Staggia river. It was built in the 13th century by the government of Siena as a castle and advance position of the city.
It was soon surrounded by sturdy walls with 14 large towers which originally were much taller than nowadays (“sulla cerchia di Monteriggioni di torri si corona”, how Dante describes it in the Inferno), but which still today make the view of the town enchanting.

EREMO DI LECCETO

About 9 km from Siena.
This Augustinian hermitage is very old and may date from the 4th century. Very little of the original building remains after its transformation in 1317 and again in 1344 into the structure that we find today.
The two cloisters are also very old, one dating from the 13th and the other from the 15th century.

CERTOSA DI PONTIGNANO

About 8 km from the town of Pontignano, It consists of three cloisters and a church. The first cloister is built in the style of the Renaissance, the second, smaller one dates from the 14th century; the third has interesting frescos by Poccetti.
The church contains remnants of frescos, including Histories of Carthusian friars by Francesco Vanni and by Poccetti.