Where to Stay

Siena is a blessed city that attracts a diverse mix of tourists, thanks to a number of different attractions. It is a university town as well as a center of art and religion, not forgetting a delicious gastronomic culture! As a result, the city caters for a wide variety of visitors. The hotels range from luxury accommodation, which offers comfort and charm in settings that seem to date back to the Middle Ages, to hostels or bed and breakfast lodgings that are perfect for travelers on a more restricted budget. These places are all over the town, all you need to do is look up and you will see them—as fortunately the various types of accommodation are not limited to one area, but rather can be found in all the districts. The city has become ever more welcoming in the last few years, as open borders and increased globalization have led to more tourists and increased competition in the industry. The challenge of innovation has been accepted and won, and the evidence of this can be found in the current range of activities that the city has to offer.

In the surrounding area, there are many quality hotels and lodgings, which have also sprung up in the last few years thanks to the consistent presence of foreign tourists who come for long-term stays. It is no coincidence that some areas are now ironically nicknamed Chiantishire or Toskana Fraktion. This is a particular kind of tourist trend that demands high quality service, and often tourists rent out entire villas with grounds or apartments in town. Even the smallest villages now offer decent accommodation on a level that is high above the norm. There are also good quality, large, youth hostels in the area such as theOstello Guidoriccio.

Agriturismo However, the true growth industry is in the large number of farms that now accept guests, such as the Agriturismo dell'Arnano . The idea of a farm holiday was a foreign invention that was imported to Italy, originally intended to get the holidaymakers to help pick olives or thresh grain; however, this led to the ruination of both the holiday and the crops! The idea started in the Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto regions but has really found its place in central Italy. The farms now have a much more positive image, and guests can stay in villas or country cottages and have the chance to play all kinds of sports in the fresh countryside air. Archery and horseback riding are particularly popular. These farm holidays also work well because they are near the city and are very cost effective. Guests may also make use of centers that offer a new kind of gourmet tourism, teaching people how best to taste and appreciate local resources. This is an extremely worthy way to avoid the prevailing standardization of food. Guests study dishes before they taste them and learn the history of the oils and wines (the history is just as delicious as the flavors themselves), all of which is part of local culture and merits consideration. There are also many tours dedicated to a single wine or delicacy.

Spas Another attraction worth mentioning is the spas. Chianciano offers spas and hotels, including the Grand Hotel Chianciano Terme, as well as a range of pleasures for those seeking thermal parks with massages, gyms, a dietary center, and courses on well-being. Everything available is of a very high standard- as it should be for one of the most famous thermal water centers in Italy and Europe.