Capitoline Wolf atSiena Duomo. According to a legend, Siena was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus. When they fledRome, they took the statue of the She-wolf to Siena, which became a symbol of the town.
Siena, like otherTuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of theEtruscans (c. 900–400 BC) when it was inhabited by a tribe called the Saina. ARoman town calledSaena Iulia was founded at the site in the time of the EmperorAugustus.[14]
According to local legend, Siena was founded bySenius and Aschius, two sons ofRemus and thus nephews ofRomulus, after whom Rome was named. Supposedly after their father's murder by Romulus, they fled Rome, taking with them the statue of the she-wolf suckling the infants (Capitoline Wolf), thus appropriating that symbol for the town.[15] Additionally they rode white and black horses, giving rise to theBalzana, or coat of arms of Siena with a white band atop a dark band. Some claim the name Siena derives from Senius. Other etymologies derive the name from the Etruscan family nameSaina, the Roman family nameSaenii, or theLatin wordsenex "old" or its derived formseneo "to be old".[16]
The first known document of the Sienese community dates back to 70 AD: theRoman Senator Manlio Patruito reported toRome that he had been ridiculed with a fake funeral during his official visit to Saena Iulia, a small military colony in Tuscia. The Roman Senate decided to punish the main culprits and to severely call the Sienese to greater respect for Roman authority.[17]
At the end of the third century the city wasChristianised bySant'Ansano, known as the "Baptist of the Sienese", who was punished by the Roman authorities governing Siena with the test of fire and boiling oil, imprisonment and finally beheading. During the Middle Ages he was therefore named patron saint of Siena, and the day of his liturgical anniversary came to mark the beginning of the "Contrada Year".[18][19][clarification needed]
Feudal power waned, however, and by the death ofCountess Matilda in 1115 the border territory of theMarch of Tuscany which had been under the control of her family, the Canossa, broke up into several autonomous regions. This ultimately resulted in the creation of theRepublic of Siena.[14]
The Republic of Siena, established in the 12th century, was a vibrant and influential city-state during the medieval and Renaissance periods. Founded on principles of commerce and governance, Siena quickly became a significant player in the region's political landscape. Siena's economy thrived primarily through its wool industry, which was renowned throughout Europe. The city's strategic location along major trade routes further bolstered its prosperity, allowing Siena to establish trade networks that extended across Europe. This economic success was supported by a well-developed banking system and a strong guild structure that regulated various trades and professions.[20]
Politically, the Republic of Siena was governed by a complex system of councils and magistrates, dominated by powerful noble families who competed for influence and control. The city's political structure evolved over time, with periodic reforms aimed at balancing power and maintaining stability. However, internal rivalries often led to factionalism and occasional civil unrest, one of the main challenges faced by manyItalian city-states of that period.[20]
Culturally, Siena flourished during thelate Middle Ages andRenaissance, producing notable artists such asDuccio di Buoninsegna andAmbrogio Lorenzetti. These artists, along with architects and scholars, contributed to the city's rich artistic and intellectual heritage. Siena's distinctive Gothic architecture, exemplified by the iconicDuomo di Siena and thePalazzo Pubblico, remains a testament to its cultural achievements during this period.[21] In the 1330s Lorenzetti painted the frescoThe City at Peace in the local government chamber Sala dei Nove, placing human activities in the foreground while buildings frame and protect the city of Siena.[22] During the golden age of Siena before theBlack Death in 1348, the city was home to 50,000 people.[23]
Despite its cultural and economic prowess, the Republic faced external threats and conflicts, particularly from its rivalFlorence. The rivalry between Siena and Florence intensified throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, culminating in a series of wars known as theItalian Wars. These conflicts ultimately weakened Siena's political and economic position.[4] From 1547 to 1552, the Spanish-installed governor of Siena wasDiego Hurtado de Mendoza, until he was ousted by a Sienese revolt, which re-established the Sienese Republic. In theItalian War of 1551–1559, the republic was defeated by the rivalFlorence in alliance with the Spanish crown. After 18 months of resistance, Siena surrendered to Spain on 17 April 1555, marking the end of the republic.[24]
After the fall of the Republic, a few Sienese led by the Florentine exilePiero Strozzi, not wanting to accept the fall of the Republic, took refuge inMontalcino, creating the Republic of Siena sheltered in Montalcino. It survived until 31 May 1559 when it was betrayed by the French allies, whom Siena had always supported, concluding with thePeace of Cateau-Cambrésis withCharles V, which effectively ceded the Republic to the Medici.[25]
TheHouse of Medici, apart from the brief parenthesis ofFerdinando I, who tried to create an organised state, were not able to give a stable structure to theGrand Duchy of Tuscany, keeping almost unchanged the division between the so-called Old State, i.e. Florence, and the New State, i.e. Siena and the southern part up toPitigliano, with different laws and taxes. With the death ofGian Gastone de' Medici, (1737), who had no children, the Medici dynasty ended and the Grand Duchy passed into the hands of theHabsburg-Lorraine dynasty who kept it until 1799.[25]
Siena aerial panorama. June 2024.Siena aerial panorama. June 2024.
Siena is located in the central part ofTuscany, in the middle of a vast hilly landscape between theArbia river valley (south), theMerse valley (south-west), the Elsa valley (north), theChianti hills (north-east), the Montagnola Senese (west) and theCrete Senesi (south-east). The city lies at 322 m (1,056 ft) above sea level.
Siena has a typical inland Mediterranean climate. Average rainfall is 823 mm (32.4 in), with the maximum in November and the minimum in July. August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F), and January the coldest, with an average temperature of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F).
The hottest temperature ever recorded was 39.6 °C (103.3 °F) in August 2017. On average, 10 days per year exceed 34 °C (93.2 °F).
Climate data for Siena (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present)
Within Siena's historic center, three main districts, known as theTerzi, can be identified: Terzo di Città, Terzo di San Martino, and Terzo di Camollia. TheseTerzi are further divided intoContrade, totaling 17, which compete against each other during thePalio di Siena.[30]
Outside the city walls, new suburbs and neighborhoods began to develop from the early 20th century onward. Initially, extramural suburbs grew spontaneously just beyond the walls, later followed by neighborhoods designed according to rational urban planning principles.[31] The main neighborhoods are:
As of 2025, Siena has a population of 52,991, of whom 46.7% are male and 53.3% are female. Minors make up 13.3% of the population, and seniors make up 28.3%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.[2]
As of 2024, the foreign-born population is 7,099, equal to 13.4% of the population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities areAlbanians (769),Romanians (676),Ukrainians (368),Peruvians (312) andPakistanis (277).[34]
The main activities are tourism, services, agriculture, handicrafts and light industry.
In 2009 agricultural activity comprised 919 companies with a total area of 10.755 square kilometres (4.153 sq mi) for a usable agricultural area of 6.954 square kilometres (2.685 sq mi) or about1⁄30 of the total municipal area (dataISTAT for the 2000 Agriculture CensusV).
The area has also seen a growth inbiotechnology. The Centenary Institute Sieroterapico Achille Sclavo used to be Swiss-owned, operating under the company name,Novartis Vaccines. Novartis developed and produced vaccines and employed about a thousand people. In 2015, the research plant in Siena became part ofGlaxo Smith Kline, as part of a deal betweenNovartis and this firm.[35]
Siena retains a ward-centric culture from medieval times. Each ward (contrada) is represented by an animal or mascot and has its own boundary and distinct identity. Ward rivalries are most rampant during the annualhorse race (Palio) in the Piazza del Campo.[36] There are 17 wards (contrada): Aquila, Bruco, Chiocciola, Civetta, Drago, Giraffa, Istrice, Leocorno, Lupa, Nicchio, Oca, Onda, Pantera, Selva, Tartuca, Torre, Valdimontone.
ThePalio di Siena is a traditional medievalhorse race run around the Piazza del Campo twice each year, on 2 July and 16 August. The event is attended by large crowds, and is widely televised. Ten randomly selected from 17Contrade (which are city neighbourhoods originally formed asbattalions for the city's defence) vie for the trophy: a painted banner, orPalio bearing an image of theBlessed Virgin Mary.
The Church ofSan Domenico contains art byGuido da Siena, dating to the mid-13th century. Duccio'sMaestà, which was commissioned by the City of Siena in 1308, was instrumental in leading Italian painting away from the hieratic representations ofByzantine art and directing it towards more direct presentations of reality. And hisMadonna and Child with Saints polyptych, painted between 1311 and 1318, remains at the city'sPinacoteca Nazionale.
Siena CathedralFaçade of the Palazzo Pubblico (town hall) during thePalio daysPiazza SalimbeniStreets of old Siena
TheSiena Cathedral (Duomo), begun in the 12th century, is a masterpiece of ItalianRomanesque–Gothic architecture. Its main façade was completed in 1380 with a nave oriented northeast–southwest. A proposed expansion of the eastern transept would have transformed the church into an ambitiously massive basilica, the largest then in the world, with an east–west nave. However, the scarcity of funds, in part due to war and the Black Death, truncated the project. Two walls of this expanded eastern transept remain; through an internal staircase, visitors can climb for a grand view of the city.
TheSiena Cathedral Pulpit is an octagonal 13th-century masterpiece sculpted byNicola Pisano with lion pedestals and biblical bas-relief panels. The inlaid marble mosaic floor of the cathedral, designed and laboured on by many artists, is among the most elaborate in Italy. The Sacristy and Piccolomini library have well-preservedRenaissance frescos byGhirlandaio andPinturicchio respectively. Other sculptors active in the church and in the subterraneanbaptistry areDonatello,Lorenzo Ghiberti,Jacopo della Quercia and others. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo contains Duccio's famousMaestà (1308–11) and various other works by Sienese masters. More Sienese paintings are to be found in the Pinacoteca, e.g. 13th-century works byDietisalvi di Speme.
ThePiazza del Campo, the shell-shaped town square, unfurls before thePalazzo Pubblico with its tallTorre del Mangia. This is part of the site for thePalio horse race. The Palazzo Pubblico, itself a great work of architecture, houses yet another important art museum. Included within the museum isAmbrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes depicting theAllegory and Effects of Good and Bad Government and also some of the finest frescoes ofSimone Martini andPietro Lorenzetti.
ThePalazzo Salimbeni, located in a piazza of the same name, was the original headquarters and remains in possession of theMonte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in continuous existence in Europe.
Sanctuary ofSanta Caterina, incorporating the old house ofSt. Catherine of Siena. It houses the miraculousCrucifix (late 12th century) from which the saint received herstigmata, and a 15th-century statue of St. Catherine.
The historicSiena synagogue is also preserved and open to visitors.
TheMedicean Fortress houses the Siena Jazz School, with courses and concerts throughout the year, and a festival during the International Siena Jazz Masterclasses.
In the neighbourhood, there are numerous patrician villas, some of which are attributed toBaldassarre Peruzzi:
The Strade Bianche cycling race starts and finishes in Siena
Siena hosts the start and finish of theStrade Bianche, a professionalcycling race famous for its historic white gravel roads, calledstrade bianche orsterrati in Italian.[39] More than 50 kilometres (31 miles) of the race is run over dirt roads, usually country lanes and farm tracks twisting through the hills and vineyards of the Chianti region. The finish is on thePiazza del Campo, after a steep and narrow climb on the roughly paved Via Santa Caterina leading into the center of the medieval city.[40]
Siena Mobilità was a consortium established in 2005, formed byTiemme Toscana Mobilità,Busitalia Sita Nord e ByBus, to manage the local public transport in Siena, in its province and regional service toFlorence andArezzo. From 1 January 2018 Siena Mobilità operated by virtue of the bridge contract between theRegione Toscana and the companyONE Scarl.[41]
Since 1 November 2021 the public local transport is operated byAutolinee Toscane.[42]
^Fabrizio Nevola (2020).Street Life in Renaissance Italy. Yale University Press. p. 9.ISBN9780300175431.
^Smith, T.B.; Steinhoff, J.B. (2012).Art as Politics in Late Medieval and Renaissance Siena. Ashgate Publishing Company. p. 77.ISBN9781409400660.
^Caravale, Giorgio (2016).Preaching and Inquisition in Renaissance Italy: Words on Trial. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV.ISBN978-90-04-32545-6.OCLC962330573.
^ab"Siena medicea".www.movio.beniculturali.it. Retrieved6 November 2021.
^Maggi, Stefano (2021). "Siena: periferia e qualità della vita nel Novecento". In Andrea Maria Locatelli; Claudio Besana; Nicola Martinelli (eds.).Periferie europee. Istituzioni sociali, politiche, luoghi: una prospettiva storica. Vol. 1. Milan: Franco Angeli.
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