Siena for 6 nights - too long you think?

We took the express train to Florence and the bus (across the street from the train) to Siena (preferably express). Bus stops right in Siena. We were in Siena about 2:00. Had quick lunch by the bus station to unwind, walked to Hotel Alma Domus (10 minutes), quick nap and we were good for a nice long evening exploring the Piazza il Campo and much of old Siena. Dinner on the Piazza is a great start to the trip. 6 nights in Siena might be a bit much, but you can take the bus to neighboring hill towns. Or stay a few nights in the other hill towns like Montepulciano. If I had to do it again, I'd take a cab from FCO to the Termini train station rather than the express train which had a long wait, was hot and crowded and difficult to manage bags. You can also take the train or bus to Siena without going to Florence which is about 50 miles north of Siena. There are connections I believe.

The other option is to take the train from the airport to Tiburtina rail station, then take the Sena bus direct to Siena. The bus drops you off in town whereas the train station is at the bottom of the hill. Overall that's the fastest method as there are regular buses to Siena. But some people like the train to stretch out more. I'd love to be in Siena for 6 nights. Depends on what you want to do and experience. The city itself can be thoroughly explored in a couple days, but the evenings are wonderful and lots of dining options. Plus lots of daytrip options.

Andrea, Don't go through Florence it doesn't save you time it just cost more. You need to look at trenitalia site going from Fiumicino aeroporto to siena http://www.trenitalia.com/
or Fiumicino aeroporto to Tiburtina then bus to Siena http://www.sena.it/index_e.htm Train requires two changes and the Siena station is about 2 km from the center but you can walk around on the train. Bus is direct from Tiburtina bus station (across the street from train station) to Piazza Gramsci in Siena.

Hi Andrea (nice name!), do you plan to have a car at all during your time in Tuscany? If so, I can recommend a great Agriturismo in Siena. I would love to stay there 6 nights! You can do Tuscany without a car, but you are more limited in where you can go and how much you can do in a day. I see no reason for you to stay in Rome upon arrival. I often travel away from my arrival airport right away, and I travel from the west coast.

My husband and rented an apartment in the city center for 8 nights this past spring. It was awesome and I will do it again in a hearbeat. It was a great location to day trip from. We did have a car though. We rented it at FCO and immediately drove to Siena after landing. (Warning: Parking in Siena is expensive but not too hard to find) Jet lag isn't a problem for us but everyone is different. Since you are taking the train/bus, I wouldn't think it would be too much a factor. The Siena train station is much more convenient than it used to be as there is a new escalator through the shopping center across the street that takes you up into the old town so day tripping using the train has become a lot easier. I've based myself in Florence and a country B&B to check out Tuscany and Umbria as well as Siena a couple of times and Siena is by far my favorite home base. You can stay out all day checking out the other towns and come back after dark and still get a great dinner after 9pm and a glass of Brunello on the Campo afterwards. Have fun!

Personally, I would choose 3 nights Siena and 3 nights somewhere else. Are you not staying in Rome at all?

Wow you guys! Thanks for all this great advice! Getting very excited about this Siena idyll! We plan to hit Rome on the way out. There's some papal convention or something so it's impossible to book the convent we usually stayed at very cheaply before, until later. Based on all your great advice, I'm planning to take a taxi from FCO to Termini via taxi ($$) and take the train (the one with the Chiusi change, probably not the Grossetto) and then a taxi from Siena train station to the albergo. Does that sound like a winner? Since I'll have youngish kids with me, I'm figuring we can just go very slowly around Siena with no pressured plans and just take it all in. Not renting a car... Anyone have a preference about taking that Rome>Chiusi>Siena train over the
Rome>Grossetto>Siena train? Seems pretty equal, just a bit shorter via Chiusi... You guys are the best!!! What do you consider the Coolest Thing a 9 year old boy would love in Siena? My 12 year old is game for anything... (For the boy, the creepier, the better!)

Siena has a torture museum...

For the kids, the floor of the Duomo has inlaid art in the floor - including some gruesome Biblical scenes. Climbing the towers is a must. At San Domenico are some bones and the head of St Catherine.

I'm pretty sure the inlaid floors in the Siena duomo are covered up the entire year except in September. Did they change that? As for gruesome, can anyone remind me what the place is in Rome that's built out of human skulls and bones? Some catacomb?

Michael, I believe you are thinking of the Capuchin Crypt in Rome. It is below the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto. We were there in February and my teens were creeped out but loved it:)

As far as I know the Duomo floors are uncovered all the time but they rope off important areas. They were certainly exposed when I last saw them a couple of Octobers ago.

We'll for sure have to take a gander at the head of St. Catherine, too. Any other "Siena greatest hits" anyone cares to mention? A favorite restaurant?

Re the mosaic floors in the Siena duomo, according to this website
The panels in the nave and aisles are usually on display (although roped off for protection) but the those in the transepts and apse are kept under protective cover, except from August 23 to October 3 during the Palio.

Oldest bank in the world is headquartered on the Piazza il Campo.

Thanks for the added info on the floors being covered Michael. Although there really aren't much in the way of transepts at the Duomo since the nave was intended to be the final transept. The Massacre of the Innocents is listed in the "transept" on that website but was certainly uncovered in mid-October 2009. That's the most "gruesome" one and should be uncovered.

As far as restaurant suggestions go, La Taverna Del Capitano is my absolute favourite place to eat in Siena. With the kids, you might find it better to head there a bit before the usual Italian dinner time as it fills up pretty quickly. It's a family restaurant and they've been racing in the palio for generations (the current chef races for their contrade today!) so there's some pretty cool memorabilia you guys would get a kick out of- they've got lots of stories to share too! The food is impeccable, very Sienese, and worth getting a couple courses. If you'll be there on a Wednesday, you can go up to La Lizza (10 minute walk north of il Campo?) for the market. It's pretty fun to look around, and there's a cute pond with turtles and ducks in the area too. I know they have an ice rink in the winter, but I believe they put a carousel in as well in warmer weather. I also second the tower suggestions- they'll love it. Have a great time!

The best meal we had was a place we ended up at because it was open late and close to the apartment. It's in the La Lizza area, Osteria la Piana. It was packed with university professors and a couple of families until midnight in the middle of the week. Fot the $, it may have been one of the best meals I have had at that budget period. Also, there is a fantastic new Conad grocery store just a couple of streets off the Campo. It didn't show up on any maps or guide books and I think it still doesn't because it's new but it's on Piazza Giacomo Matteotti (big circle full of parked motorcycles) near the post office. It's in an underground mall. Just take the escalator down, or follow the crowds of university students. It's got a great selection of picnic supplies and lot's of gourmet goodies to take home.