Siena - Dinner at Enoteca I Terzi

This was one of the best restaurants I tried in Italy. One thing about me - I do a very thorough research before I travel to make sure I'm seeing the best and especially... eating the best. At the first bite, I instantly knew Tuscan cuisine would be 100 times better than Roman food.  Don't get me wrong - the pizza in Rome was good, but this is on a whole other level! This restaurant is frequently changing their menu to whatever is fresh for that day. They have an extensive handmade pasta list and main course options including sucking pig. I got there around 6pm or so and the restaurant was closed (I guess for Siesta). I waited around 2 hours just for it to open. And it was well worth the wait! The Pasta special of the day was penne with ricotta and radicchio and the meat special was straccetti with artichoke and potatoes. Both were amazing! I also tried this heavenly artichoke-stuffed puff pastry that was quite possibly the best thing I ever ate. The other entree I tried was suckling pig that was pretty good also. If you're ever in Siena, go here! But Ill let the photos speak for themselves... Tuscany is off to a VERY good start!

Enoteca I Terzi

Via dei Termini, 7  53100 Sienna, Italy 0577 44329

Siena - Cathedral and Piazza Del Campo

This morning, I traveled from Rome to Siena on Trenatalia and made it a stop for the night before moving on to Florence.  I was interested in Siena because it is the embodiment of a medieval city. I stayed at Hotel Italia and it was perfect. The breakfast was amazing, the room was clean, and the staff was friendly. The location was 5 minutes from the main transportation hub in Siena, but a nice 20 minute walk to town. I immediately went into town to the Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio horse races take place. Its amazing how this piazza gets turned into a dirt race track. It is so small and I can clearly see why this is considered, a very dangerous race. Clearly, I missed the Carnival celebration here, because there was confetti all over the floor of the Piazza. I always hate arriving just when the party ends! I feel like throughout Italy so far, I've always missed the Carnival celebration! Of course I had to see the famous Siena Cathedral and it was the most beautiful Church in all of Italy. The interior is so opulent and of gothic architecture. It was built to be grander than the one in Rome, and I think it succeeded. It rivals the beauty of Gaudi's Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona for me. It also blows my mind how much money and power the church had when you're inside a structure like this. You cannot miss this! Overall, this town is what you would picture when you think of a medieval city. It is desolate and very hilly so be prepared to hike! Despite that, this town was very charming. Its perfect for a couple that just wants to relax and drink wine through Tuscany.

Piazza Del Campo

Piazza Del Campo

Carnivale Celebration

Gelato Italiano

One of the many hills and alleys in Siena

Siena Cathedral

Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture.

The hexagonal dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern like a golden sun.

Medieval Architecture

The pulpit is made of Carrara marble and was sculpted between the end of 1265 and November 1268

The Main Alter

Siena - A medieval hilly countryside town