Orlando: Siena itself was super - very medieval in character with steep winding cobbled streets, colorful piazzas, and unexpected views around every corner. Be sure to consult a map before driving in; parking is scarce, and you're likely to have a long walk ahead of you if you chose a spot on the wrong end of the wall! Piazza Del Campo, the square where the Palio horse race is run represents a nice spot to grab a quick drink, rest your feet, and study the tourist maps.
 

Helen: Siena is truly one of my favorite cities in Italy. Despite being just below Florence as a "must see" in Tuscany in all the guide books, it never seems crowded or overrun with tourist. We wandered into town soaking in the atmosphere of the medieval architecture and into Il Campo, the largest Piazza in town where we had lunch. This is also the spot where Siena hosts its annual Palio, a raucous horse race between the nine districts in town. The entire city is decked out with banners and finery and residents dress in period medieval costume.

Siena also has one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in all of Italy. The work of Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, the cathedral features a combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture and houses some of the great art masterpieces of Italian art from the 13th to the 16th centuries including Nicola Pisano’s pulpit, Bernini’s chapel of the Blessed Virgin and Donatello’s baptismal font.

On our way to San Gimignano we stopped off in the idyllic village of Monteriggioni. We only spent an hour there as the town is so small you could plunk it down in the middle of New York City and it would scarcely take up on city block. It is completely enclosed by medieval walls and until the 1960s housed a co-op of farmers who grew mostly grapes, this being the Chianti region. These days the main industry in town is tourism which benefits greatly from the town’s convenient access just off the Autostrade.

We finally ended up in San Gimignano which also possesses the classic storybook charm of the previous two cities. Most known for it’s medieval towers, San Gimignano once housed roughly 72 such structures, but only 14 survive today. Still, they make an impressive skyline over the Tuscan countryside from its hilltop perch affording visitors views the stuff that fills guidebooks and Tuscany calendars. After taking in the atmosphere of the city we had a delicious meal featuring classic Tuscan dishes like Tagliatelle al Cinghiale (wild boar), Ribollita (soup), and a variety local cheeses and salami all accompanied by the fabulous Chianti wine. Before we hit the road we stopped in Piazza Cisterna for one more gelato, supposedly the best in all of Italy according to a contest they won. It was pretty damn good.
 

Virginia: Visiting Siena is simple even if you do not speak Italian! Just ask Helen, an American married to a Sienese with two bi-lingual children, who rents guestrooms in her centrally located family villa. It's on a quiet street across from the Medici Fortress and next to Siena's old town walls, in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods: San Prospero. Free parking on street. No curfew. The villa is bright, clean and comfortably furnished with European paintings and elegant antique. A unique experience of unhurried hospitality and warm, caring assistance in English - perfect for families, retired couples, honeymoons and extended stays.
website http://www.sienaquietvilla.net
 

Sue: Siena is fabulous! The main sights cluster around the medieval fan-shaped Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio horse races take place twice a year, in July and August. View the magnificent Duomo and climb the stunning bell tower in the Gothic town hall, for amazing views over the Tuscan hills.
 

Traveler: Yesterday we took a trip to Siena, Italy. WHAT A GREAT CITY! We started out the day with a visit to the Palazzo Publico also known as the Public Palace. After touring the palace we hiked up to the top of the bell tower to see an amazing panaromic view of the city and surrounding hillsides. We also visit the Cathedral of Siena where we saw several sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo. We had the rest of the afternoon free where we grab some lunch and hung out in the Campo Piazza. We finished lunch off with a nice cold gelato. For the rest of the afternoon most everyone shopped around. Almost every girl on the trip bought a pair of shoes in Siena, some even two pairs. After walking around the town and seeing all of the sites a few us stopped in the San Pablo Pub and grabbed what the Italians call a hot dog. This pub had a small balcony overlooking the piazza and was a great place to take in the city and end a great day in Siena.
 

Our stay in Tuscany was absolutely fantastic! It exceeded all our expectations. We loved the rugged beauty of the landscape, the wonderful food and wine and above all, the friendliness of the locals. We could not speak a word of Italian and that did not make any difference to the hospitality and courtesy. Le Capanne was great because of its excellent location. We reached Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, the Chianti region and even as far as Cortona with ease. We also appreciated the swimming pool that was very needed at the end of a hot summer's day. The local restaurants were all very good and we especially liked the comfort of having a restaurant on the premises of Le Capanne . The food was out of this world and the service was great. We thought that we got excellent value for money for the accommodation. We would recommend Le Capanne  for its good value for money in a relaxed atmosphere in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

René G...........d, - Somers, NY - USA