Staying in Terzo di Città and the Duomo
Piazza del Duomo works well as the starting point for a day split between several interiors. Keep the cathedral complex and Santa Maria della Scala together, then follow Via San Pietro toward the picture gallery. The route changes level, so returning to your room between visits may involve another climb. Check whether your building has a lift before booking an upper floor.
At a glance
- Best for
- Cathedral, quiet lanes
- At night
- Quiet after the day-trippers leave
- Getting around
- On foot; taxi to the door is limited
- Price level
- €€€
The oldest part of the walled city, with the cathedral, the museum and quiet lanes a five to ten minute walk from the Campo.
Good for
- Quiet evenings in the oldest part of town
- The cathedral and its museums on your doorstep
- A five to ten minute walk to the Campo
Think twice if
- Steps and hills would be a problem with heavy luggage
- You want dozens of restaurants at the door
- You are booking late for the Palio: rooms are scarce
How Terzo di Città and the Duomo compares with the rest of Siena
What is near Terzo di Città and the Duomo
Santa Maria della Scala
From Piazza del Duomo, walk about 1 minute across the square to the museum entrance.
Pinacoteca Nazionale
Allow about 7 minutes via Via del Capitano and Via San Pietro, leaving extra time to browse the street.
Piazza del Campo
Walk downhill along Via di Città for about 8 minutes, remembering that the return journey climbs.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
Allow about 5 minutes to reach the baptistery below the cathedral, using the steps around the eastern end.
Eating in Terzo di Città and the Duomo
Via di Città and the lanes toward Via San Pietro give you several places to compare menus between museum visits. La Taverna di San Giuseppe is on Via Giovanni Duprè, downhill from this area. Book dinner separately from your sightseeing plans so a delayed museum visit does not make the evening rushed.
Getting around from Terzo di Città and the Duomo
The cathedral square is reached on foot through the old town. Piazza Gramsci is roughly 20 minutes away for regional buses, with gradients along the route. If steps are difficult, ask your accommodation to suggest a street route and confirm the closest permitted taxi drop-off.
Hotels in Terzo di Città and the Duomo
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Other areas of Siena
Staying in Terzo di Città and the Duomo
Does the area involve many steps?
Some direct routes use steps, particularly beside the cathedral. Street alternatives can be longer and still hilly, so check the approach to your exact address.
Can I visit the cathedral complex in separate stages?
Check the current pass validity and entry conditions before buying. Its component visits may suit separate sessions, but repeat entry to an individual building should not be assumed.
What can I do when it rains?
Combine Santa Maria della Scala with the Pinacoteca Nazionale. They offer substantial indoor visits, although you will still need to walk outdoors between their entrances.