Discover the secret places in the city of the Palio, on foot
Urban trekking began in Siena with the intention of promoting a gentle form of tourism off the beaten track. Along itineraries designed by experts, the “walker” has the opportunity to enjoy a unique and sustainable travel experience, combining the opportunity to be immersed in art while being active.
We present a walking tour of Siena’s lesser-known riches and curiosities. The city, famed for its historic center designated as a World Heritage Site in honor of Piazza del Campo and its iconic Palio horse race, also boasts more hidden but no less fascinating aspects.
Since 1856, the Orto Botanico Universitario (the Botanical Museum and Garden at the University of Siena) has been located between Tufi and San Marco, in one of the characteristic green valleys within the medieval walls. The former location was behind the old Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, reflecting its origin as the Giardino dei Semplici (literally, the Garden of the ‘Simples’). Among beds bordered by pathways, small lakes and rocky escarpments, hundreds of plants from all over the world are grown, some of which have healing virtues in low dosages but are otherwise toxic. These are the plants of the medieval apothecary tradition, including belladonna (deadly nightshade), assenzio (wormwood) and stramonio (thornapple), which the Aromatari (those who grew or sold herbal essences) collected and dried in their workshops.
Also present is the 19ᵗʰ-century Stufa, a greenhouse that mimics the dense and intricate rainforests, where orchids with large, colorful and eerie flowers grow alongside carnivorous plants that trap small insects, trees with oddly shaped leaves or roots that stick out of the ground to form a series of ‘tentacles’.
Since 1856, the Orto Botanico Universitario (the Botanical Museum and Garden at the University of Siena) has been located between Tufi and San Marco, in one of the characteristic green valleys within the medieval walls. The former location was behind the old Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, reflecting its origin as the Giardino dei Semplici (literally, the Garden of the ‘Simples’). Among beds bordered by pathways, small lakes and rocky escarpments, hundreds of plants from all over the world are grown, some of which have healing virtues in low dosages but are otherwise toxic. These are the plants of the medieval apothecary tradition, including belladonna (deadly nightshade), assenzio (wormwood) and stramonio (thornapple), which the Aromatari (those who grew or sold herbal essences) collected and dried in their workshops.
Also present is the 19ᵗʰ-century Stufa, a greenhouse that mimics the dense and intricate rainforests, where orchids with large, colorful and eerie flowers grow alongside carnivorous plants that trap small insects, trees with oddly shaped leaves or roots that stick out of the ground to form a series of ‘tentacles’.
The Tabernacle of Madonna del Corvo (Our Lady of the Raven) is located along Via Stalloreggi, on the corner of Via Madonna del Corvo. It is a Pietà painted by Il Sodoma at the legendary site where, in 1348, a crow (the bearer of the plague) is said to have fallen dead, starting the contagion of the disease throughout the city.
The Tabernacle of Madonna del Corvo (Our Lady of the Raven) is located along Via Stalloreggi, on the corner of Via Madonna del Corvo. It is a Pietà painted by Il Sodoma at the legendary site where, in 1348, a crow (the bearer of the plague) is said to have fallen dead, starting the contagion of the disease throughout the city.
For those seeking a touch of mystery, on the left side of the Cathedral is the Sator, also known as the magic square. Careful observation reveals a small Latin epigraph consisting of five words of five letters each: Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas.
Arranged to form a square, these words create a palindrome, readable in any direction—top to bottom, bottom to top, right to left and vice versa. In addition, the central word tenet is repeated to form a cross in the heart of the square, adding an additional layer of symmetry and mystery.
For those seeking a touch of mystery, on the left side of the Cathedral is the Sator, also known as the magic square. Careful observation reveals a small Latin epigraph consisting of five words of five letters each: Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas.
Arranged to form a square, these words create a palindrome, readable in any direction—top to bottom, bottom to top, right to left and vice versa. In addition, the central word tenet is repeated to form a cross in the heart of the square, adding an additional layer of symmetry and mystery.
Cited by Dante, who attributed to its water the “bessaggine,” ergo the madness of the Sienese, this medieval fountain begun in 1193 initially had only one arch before another two were subsequently added. According to one legend, the door at the base of the basin on the right led to an underground tunnel at the end of which the Spanish, who ruled Siena in the 16ᵗʰ century, allegedly hid a secret chest.
Cited by Dante, who attributed to its water the “bessaggine,” ergo the madness of the Sienese, this medieval fountain begun in 1193 initially had only one arch before another two were subsequently added. According to one legend, the door at the base of the basin on the right led to an underground tunnel at the end of which the Spanish, who ruled Siena in the 16ᵗʰ century, allegedly hid a secret chest.