Where to begin a route focused on the Walls of Siena, the evidence of its medieval history and preserved almost completely?
Follow our itinerary; we are confident that you will discover something new and unexpected, even if you have already visited Siena.
Not everyone knows that the seat of the Historical Archives of Siena is hosted by the former cloister of Santa Marta, located at Via San Marco 90.
Here you can visit the sacristy, the new oratory, built by Giovanbattista Lari detto Tozzo, the frescoes in the cloister dating back to the XV century and the study room where you can admire the Last Supper painted by Giacomo Pacchiarotti in 1522.
To reach the second stage you have to walk along Porta San Marco and Via delle Sperandie: here, at number 47, there is a gate which leads to a beautiful green valley.
Follow the trail through the olive trees and you’ll arrive at the entrance of a spring, once used by the nuns of the convent above.
Fonte delle Monache (Spring of Nuns) receives water from the ancient aqueducts municipal still active, the so-called “bottini”. The Spring is open from Monday to Saturday from 7.00 am to 1.00 pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 am to 5:00 am.
From Via Duprè the itinerary continues towards Via di Porta Giustizia, the road that, in the Middle Ages, all those condemned to death had to cover which starting from the prisons under Public Palace to Poggio alle Forche, which is located outside the city walls.
This trail is now a peaceful place where you can even have a picnic.
After a refreshing stop, continue towards Via dei Servi and, crossing Ponte di Romana, walk along Via dell’Oliviera and Via dei Pispini, and then arrive at Fortino Baldassare Peruzzi.
This small fort today is comprised within the barracks of Santa Chiara, home of the Parachute Regiment “Folgore”.
From here you can reach one of the lesser known alleys in Siena: going from Via dei Pispini, follow Via Pantaneto and Via Pagliaresi, here you’ll find Vicolo degli Orefici, an alley that, according to some historians, was part of the Via Francigena.
This narrow alley is almost always quiet and represents a part of the local history, because here there are ancient buildings that probably had an important function in the Middle Ages.
You’ll need only 3 hours to follow this route and go discovering hidden glimpses of Siena within its walls.
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