Siena--City Hall Tower, Duomo Tower

Although the climb to the tower next to the Duomo (I think you enter through the museum) isn't tight, there is one area you need to go through to get to the stairs that is a little tight (like a door in the ceiling type opening). The view is great at the top. I haven't climbed the tower in the city hall so can't comment on that.

I have never climbed up the bell tower at the city hall in Siena. There has always been a long line there and I am not very patient.

I am not sure what you mean by the Duomo bell tower, are you referring to the museum tour where you can climb to the top of the Duomo and see around? If so, I have done that trek. The view is great. I don't recall the climb being that claustrophobic. It is a spiral staircase but it doesn't "lean" like the stairs in the domes do.

Gail, there is a separate "tower" or whatever right beside the Duomo that visitors can climb, but I can't remember what it's called?

There are two levels that visitors can climb to, and the top level provides a great view of Siena (it was rectangular and not circular, as the top of a Duomo would be). The climb didn't seem overly "tight" and I believe there were openings in the walls at intervals to add some light. The only "tight" aspect would be when those going up the stairways were passing those going down.

Cheers!

I think the previous poster and I are referring to the same "tower." I have climbed it twice and you get to it through the Duomo museum.

I prefer the top if the Duomo Museum to the City Tower. Both provide spectacular views, but the top of the museum has an area where you can sit and enjoy the view for as long as you please. It's one of my favorite places in Italy.

The city hall tower has unobstructed views in all directions. You can see the entire town and far into the surrounding countryside on a clear day. Stairs are fairly wide as I recall. Views from Duomo museum walkway are also nice (super view of Campo), but the last spiral stairway is very tight (although not very long). Not certain, but don't think climbing the actual Duomo bell tower is an option.

Climbing the Duomo bell tower is, indeed, not an option.

its been a while since I was there - but I did both the TOwn hall tower AND a section of the large-wall of the cathedral (it was the far side that never got completed - making it 4x larger than currently is.) Im not sure about the tower of the Duomo itself - but the far wall was entered from the museum I think.

re: tight - maybe the up/down traffic at the same time - but the view from the tower was amazing! I try to go up any tower i can every place. The Duomo rotunda/coupala in Florence was also amazing if you go - and the tower next to the Duomo - was also open.(which I didnt go - it was was time for Gelato!)