Piazza del Campo

Piazza del Campo is the shell-shaped medieval square at the heart of Siena, one of the most beautiful public spaces in Italy. Free. The sloping brick pavement, the Palazzo Pubblico with its tower (paid climb), and the surrounding medieval palaces create a natural amphitheater where locals and visitors sit, eat, and watch the city happen. Twice a year, the Palio horse race fills the square. Budget travelers sit on the brick slope, eat a panino from a cheap bakery, and soak in a square that has looked essentially the same since the 14th century.