Feast Day of St Joseph, & Italian Father's Day!
Wish all the Josephs and dads in your life a happy day! Click for more info (plus a link to a video I made a few years ago)!
Feast Day of the Annunciation (& Sienese New Year!)
What is the Annunciation and how is it celebrated? Click above to find out!
Pasqua–Easter
Expect some shops and restaurants to be closed, but certainly more church services will be available!
Pasquetta (Easter Monday)
Italians don’t have Good Friday off work, but Easter Monday is a national holiday (so book lunch ahead, as many will be out celebrating with friends!).
Giro della Contrada di Valdimontone
Patron Saint: The Madonna of Good Counsel. Click the image for more info!
St Catherine of Siena's Feast Day!
This woman is the reason I’m in Siena! Click for more info.
Giro della Nobile Contrada dell'Oca
Patron Saint: Catherine of Siena. Click the image for more info!
Giro della Contrada del Drago
Patron Saint: Catherine of Siena. Click the image for more info!
Estrazione in Piazza del Campo for Palio 2 July!
Who will the Palio on 2 July 2024? Click for more details! • Onda 🐬 • Civetta 🦉 • Giraffa 🦒 • Leocorno 🦄 • Aquila 🦅 • Torre 🐘 • ? • ? • ? • ? •
Festa della Repubblica
In 1946, Italians voted for a republic over a monarchy, and the the modern nation of Italy was born! Click for more details.
Giro della Contrada Imperiale della Giraffa
Patron Saint: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Click image for more info!
Giro della Contrada Priora della Civetta
Patron Saint: Anthony of Padua. Click image for more info!
Giro della Contrada della Tartuca
Patron Saint: Anthony of Padua. Click image for more info!
Giro della Contrada del Leocorno
Patron Saint: John the Baptist. Click image for more details!
Calcio Storico, Florence: FINAL
Although I still don’t quite understand the rules of this soccer-rugby-wrestling-boxing match, grand traditions are always a joy to behold! Click on the image (credit: Lorenzo Noccioli) for more details.
Giro della Contrada della Chiocciola
Patron Saints: The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Click image for more details!
Giro della Contrada Capitana dell'Onda
Patron Saint: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Click image for more details!
PALIO di PROVENZANO
Click on the image to find out who’s running and what will happen between 27 June and 2 July!
Giro della Nobil Contrada del Bruco
Patron Saint: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Click image for more details!
Estrazione in Piazza del Campo for Palio 16 August!
Who will the Palio on 2 July 2024? Click for more details! • Selva 🦏 • Chiocciola 🐌 • Oca 🪿 • Nicchio 🐚 • Lupa 🐺 • Istrice 🦔 • Torre 🐘 • ? • ? • ? •
Giro della Contrada della Torre
Patron Saint: The Apostle St James the Great. Click image for more details!
Giro della Nobile Contrada del Nicchio
Patron Saint: Saint Gaetano of Thiene. Click image for more details!
PALIO dell'ASSUNTA
Click on the image to find out who’s running and what will happen between the 11th and 16th of August in Siena!
Giro della Contrada della Selva
Patron Saint: The Assumption of the Virgin. Click image for more details!
Giro della Contrada della Pantera
Patron Saint: The Beheading of St John the Baptist. Click for more details!
Giro della Contrada Sovrana dell'Istrice
Patron Saint: The Apostle Bartholomew. Click image for more details!
Ricordate Montaperti!
Listen for the drums today as we commemorate this epic victory! (Click on the image to learn more!)
Giro della Contrada della Lupa
Patron Saint: San Rocco (St Roch). Click for more details!
Giro della Nobile Contrada dell'Aquila
Patron Saint: The Holy Name of Mary. Click image for more info!
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
If 8 Dec is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, then that would mean TODAY is the Virgin Mary's birthday! (click for more info, plus the scoop on the terraces of Florence cathedral!).
Feast Day of Sant'Ansano
Siena’s principal patron saint - click for more details (plus a link to a video)!
Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
Today marks the day when St Anna received news that she would finally bear a child. Who was that child? The Virgin Mary, ovviamente!
Strade Bianche Cycling Race 2026
Even if you don’t follow cycling, this is an exciting race to behold should you find yourselves in Siena today! Click for more details!
Wine & Siena at Santa Maria della Scala
Enjoy some vino and learn its history in Siena’s oldest hospital (wine is also medicinal, right?!)! https://wineandsiena.com
Visit the Bottini of Siena!
How did Siena, a hill town with no river, provide water to citizens and visitors from the 11th century all the way to the 20th century? Find out with a special tour! Click on the image for more details.
Feast Day of St Anthony Abbot
Yes, St Anthony Abbot is the patron saint of animals! And do you know what a “tantony” is? Click for the answer!
"Chasing the Plague" on PBS, Wed 29 Oct at 9pm ET!!
We hope you’ll tune in to watch this fascinating documentary on the Black Death of 1348! Click on the image to watch the trailer!
Prima Lux: watch the sunrise over Siena!
Watch the sunrise over one of Italy’s most beautiful cities from one of two privileged vantage points! Click on the image for details and how to book.
Visit the Bottini of Siena in November!
How did Siena, a hill town with no river, provide water to citizens and visitors from the 11th century all the way to the 20th century? Find out with a special tour! Click on the image for more details. Visits are on 6, 7, 13, 21, 27, and 28 Sept at 9.00 and/or 10.30.
Visit the Bottini of Siena!
How did Siena, a hill town with no river, provide water to citizens and visitors from the 11th century all the way to the 20th century? Find out with a special tour! Click on the image for more details. Visits are on 6, 7, 13, 21, 27, and 28 Sept at 9.00 and/or 10.30.
Prima Lux: watch the sunrise over Siena!
Watch the sunrise over one of Italy’s most beautiful cities from one of two privileged vantage points! Click on the image for details and how to book.
Prima Lux: watch the sunrise over Siena!
Watch the sunrise over one of Italy’s most beautiful cities from one of two privileged vantage points! Click on the image for details and how to book.
Visit the Bottini of Siena!
How did Siena, a hill town with no river, provide water to citizens and visitors from the 11th century all the way to the 20th century? Find out with a special tour! Click on the image for more details. Visits are on 6, 7, 13, 21, 27, and 28 Sept at 9.00 and/or 10.30.
Prima Lux: watch the sunrise over Siena!
Watch the sunrise over one of Italy’s most beautiful cities from one of two privileged vantage points! Click on the image for details and how to book.
PALIO dell'ASSUNTA
Click on the image to find out who’s running and what will happen between the 11th and 16th of August in Siena!
Santa Maria delle Nevi, Siena: Special Opening!
A jewel of a church with a masterpiece recounting the Miracle of the Snows and the building of Santa Maria Maggiore. Click on the image for photos and more details!
Estrazione in Piazza del Campo for Palio 16 August!
Who will the Palio on 2 July 2024? Click for more details! • Valdimontone 🐏 • Pantera 🐆 • Bruco 🐛 • Leocorno 🦄 • Lupa 🐺 • Civetta 🦉 • Oca 🪿 • ? • ? • ? •
PALIO di PROVENZANO
Click on the image to find out who’s running and what will happen between 27 June and 2 July!
Calcio Storico, Florence: FINAL
Although I still don’t quite understand the rules of this soccer-rugby-wrestling-boxing match, grand traditions are always a joy to behold! Click on the image (credit: Lorenzo Noccioli) for more details.
Siena Art Talk series (evening 3 of 3): Kerry Ryan
Would you like to meet artists-in-residence in a 15th-c palace in Siena? Well, now’s your chance! Click on the image for more details (and yes, the presentation is in English!).
Siena Classica Tour
Click on the image for more details about what’s included! I’ll be the guide today, but this is a daily tour!
Mille Miglia in Siena 🚗 (arriving around noon in the Campo!)
If you like vintage cars and revving engines, you’re in luck! The participants of the Mille Miglia will arrive in the Piazza del Campo, Siena, around 2pm today. Click for more details! 🚗💨
Siena Art Talk series (evening 2 of 3): Christopher Radcliff
Would you like to meet artists-in-residence in a 15th-c palace in Siena? Well, now’s your chance! Click on the image for more details (and yes, the presentation is in English!).
Calcio Storico, Florence: Semi-Final 2, 🤍 Bianchi vs 💚 Verdi
Although I still don’t quite understand the rules of this soccer-rugby-wrestling-boxing match, grand traditions are always a joy to behold! Click on the image (credit: Lorenzo Noccioli) for more details.
Calcio Storico, Florence: Semi-Final 1, ❤️ Rossi vs 💙 Azzurri
Although I still don’t quite understand the rules of this soccer-rugby-wrestling-boxing match, grand traditions are always a joy to behold! Click on the image (credit: Lorenzo Noccioli) for more details.
Siena Art Talk series (evening 1 of 3): Gregory Drasler
Would you like to meet artists-in-residence in a 15th-c palace in Siena? Well, now’s your chance! Click on the image for more details (and yes, the presentation is in English!).
Siena Classica Tour
Click on the image for more details about what’s included! I’ll be the guide today and 19 June, but this is a daily tour!
Estrazione in Piazza del Campo for Palio 2 July!
Who will the Palio on 2 July 2024? Click for more details! • Valdimontone 🐏 • Pantera 🐆 • Bruco 🐛 • Leocorno 🦄 • Lupa 🐺 • Civetta 🦉 • Oca 🪿 • ? • ? • ? •
Last day of Pienza in bloom (3-18 May)
🌸 🌷 🌼 Click to see a larger version of the calendar of events (in italiano)!
Giro d'Italia passes through Siena!
Stage 9 finishes in the Piazza del Campo! Spandex everywhere! Click for more info.
