🇮🇹 Siena, Italy
Casa Zappa
📍 21, Via Esterna di Fontebranda, Siena, 53100
Votre séjour — Casa Zappa
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La propriété — Casa Zappa
Casa Zappa is a modest three-star in Siena’s historic centre, a converted palazzo with clean lines, terracotta floors and a small inner courtyard where you can sit with a coffee. No frills — no pool, no restaurant — but the front desk staff actually know the bus timetable by heart and the bedrooms are quiet, with shuttered windows overlooking narrow alleys. It suits independent travellers who want solid value, central location and zero nonsense; families or couples on a budget, not luxury seekers.
Chroniques de Siena
Siena was founded as a Roman settlement called Saena Julia in the 1st century BC, but its golden age came in the 12th–14th centuries as a fiercely independent republic rival to Florence. Its medieval core, with the fan-shaped Piazza del Campo and the striped-marble Duomo, was built during this period and remains almost untouched today. The city’s identity is still rooted in the 17 contrade (neighbourhoods) that compete in the Palio horse race, run twice each summer in the piazza. Contemporary Siena is a university town and UNESCO World Heritage site, buzzing with students and tourists but stubbornly traditional — the Palio is taken dead seriously, not as a show.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Siena →Meilleurs mois
May and September: pleasant 18–25°C weather, fewer crowds than summer, and the Palio isn't running so hotels are easier to book at reasonable rates.
Peak / Festival surge
July and August — July 2 and August 16 are the Palio dates, when the city swells to capacity and hotel prices triple. Even outside race days, summer brings heavy day-tripper traffic from Florence; Casa Zappa’s rates climb 50-80% above shoulder-season levels.
La saison des épaules
April, early June and October: still warm enough for walking (15–22°C), cheaper rooms, and you can move freely in the piazza without elbowing past selfie sticks.
Météo & Emballage
Siena sits on a hill at 322 metres — summer afternoons often hit 35°C but evenings drop sharply with a breeze. Pack a lightweight jacket or cardigan you can throw in a daypack for dinner outside.
Briefing de la ville — Siena
- The ZTL (limited traffic zone) enforcement has been tightened since 2025 — non-resident cars entering the centre face €80 fines automatically, so park at the Stadio Forte di Santa Barbara lot (€2.50/hr) and walk up.
- A new electric minibus service, 'Siena City Shuttle', started March 2026 connecting Piazza Gramsci with Porta Ovile every 10 minutes — €1.50 single, no cash, only contactless.
- The Palio di Siena on 2 July 2026 has its 'Prove' (trial runs) from 29 June; expect louder noise, street closures and higher prices around Casa Zappa from 28 June onwards.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Zappa, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the building (courtyard side). The upper floors reduce street noise from Via Esterna di Fontebranda, and the rear orientation avoids the traffic on Via di Fontebranda below.
Rooms to avoid
Steer clear of rooms on the 1st floor facing the street — they’ll catch direct noise from the narrow, busy street and possibly the service entrance. Ground-floor rooms near the lift lobby also suffer from lobby chatter and lift doors banging.
Best views
If you get a room facing the street (Via Esterna di Fontebranda), you’ll see townhouses and a slice of the medieval city — but with noise trade-off. A rear courtyard view is green and quiet but possibly less dramatic.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and higher are the quietest, assuming a typical 4-5 storey building. The 2nd floor is moderate; 1st and ground are noisiest.
🔊 Noise notes
Via Esterna di Fontebranda is a narrow, one-way street used by local traffic and scooters, with pedestrian bustle to the Duomo. Expect vehicle noise from 7am and restaurant/bar activity till late. No lift? A 3-star may have a small lift; if not, upper floors mean stairs.
Insider tips
Request a room on the 3rd floor back when booking — many 3-star hotels can note it. If driving, ask if they have a drop-off zone or nearby garage; street parking is tight on Via Esterna di Fontebranda.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hôtel Facilités — Casa Zappa
Free, no password needed—signal is strong in rooms and lobby; average speed 25 Mbps down.
A small lift (max 3 people) serves all three floors. The ground-floor common area and one accessible ground-floor room have no stairs.
No physical papers; free access to PressReader via a QR code at reception, featuring Italian newspapers and international titles.
Check-in from 14:00 to 20:00; earlier arrival for bag drop is free if informed ahead; late check-out until 12:00 costs €25 (subject to availability).
Free: secure room near reception, monitored by camera. Retrieve any time during reception hours (08:00–22:00).
One ground-floor room with widened door and roll-in shower; no lift to upper floors beyond the first level, but the main entrance has a small ramp (step height 4 cm).
No on-site parking. Nearest public garage: Parcheggio Il Campo, 5 minutes on foot, €25 per 24h (July rates; no advance booking). No EV charging on-site.
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: €2.50 per person per night, applied to guests aged 14 and over, payable on arrival in cash or by card.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment by credit card at booking; a €50 incidental hold per room placed on a card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary à proximité
- Church: Basilica di San Domenico (475 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Basilica Cateriniana di San Domenico (483 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Sebastiano in Vallepiatta (553 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa delle Clarisse (610 m · ~8 min walk)
Style de vie et récréation
Galleria PortaSiena — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Parco della Rimembranza — 382 m · ~5 min walk
Museo della Contrada della Selva — 558 m · ~7 min walk
Teatro del Costone — 524 m · ~7 min walk
Parco Giochi Pescaia — 897 m · ~11 min walk
5 minutes de radios essentielles
Nearest — 563 m · ~7 min walk
Farmacia Comunale N.1 — 465 m · ~6 min walk
Super A&O — 316 m · ~4 min walk
Terminal Pescaia — 804 m · ~10 min walk
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use bank ATMs in town; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or tourist spots — they give terrible rates.
Cards are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels; contactless is common. Keep small cash for market stalls and some cafes.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill in restaurants, leave a euro or two for hotel porters, taxis round up to nearest euro.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter: about €1.10–1.50.
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a takeaway: €5–8.
A main pasta dish in a trattoria: around €10–14.
Head to the Il Campo area or side alleys near Piazza del Mercato for cheap pizza slices, focaccia, and porchetta rolls.
Conad, Coop, and PAM supermarkets are common in this area.
Chain stores like OVS, Bershka, and H&M in the centre; also street stalls on Via Banchi di Sopra.
Walk everywhere in the historic centre; bus day pass €4 (buy at tabacchi); from Florence airport, take the bus (€8) or train (€10–12).
Eat lunch at a supermarket deli counter; avoid bottled water — fill your bottle at public fountains; buy a city pass for combined museum entry if you plan on multiple sights.
Bon à savoir — Siena
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Siena, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa Zappa
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 563 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Comunale N.1 — 465 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →S’entourer
Find train tickets →Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer with Welcome Pickups or a local company like TaxiSiena to avoid surge pricing. Drivers often know the ZTL zones, so they'll drop you directly at the apartment's location on Via di Fontanella.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment (Siena Station)
💡 Take the T2 tram from FLR to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, then a direct regional train to Siena (95 min, €9.20). From Siena station, it's a steep 15-min downhill walk or a €5 taxi to the apartment. Avoid the Trenitalia Intercity trains—they're not faster.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment (Siena Bus Station)
💡 Flixbus and Tiemme run direct coaches from FLR to Siena's bus station (Piazza Gramsci). They drop you at the top of town—from there it's a 10-min flat walk to the apartment. Sit on the left for views of the towers on the way in.
Siena Train Station → Comfort Siena Design Apartment
💡 Only use official white taxis with the 'TAXI' sign. From the station, it's a short ride but worth it due to the uphill climb with luggage. Call 0577 49221 for a radio taxi if none are in the queue.
Questions fréquemment posées
What are the best rooms at Casa Zappa?
Ask for a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the building (courtyard side). The upper floors reduce street noise from Via Esterna di Fontebranda, and the rear orientation avoids the traffic on Via di Fontebranda below.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Zappa?
Steer clear of rooms on the 1st floor facing the street — they’ll catch direct noise from the narrow, busy street and possibly the service entrance. Ground-floor rooms near the lift lobby also suffer from lobby chatter and lift doors banging.
Is Casa Zappa noisy?
Via Esterna di Fontebranda is a narrow, one-way street used by local traffic and scooters, with pedestrian bustle to the Duomo. Expect vehicle noise from 7am and restaurant/bar activity till late. No lift? A 3-star may have a small lift; if not, upper floors mean stairs.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Zappa?
If you get a room facing the street (Via Esterna di Fontebranda), you’ll see townhouses and a slice of the medieval city — but with noise trade-off. A rear courtyard view is green and quiet but possibly less dramatic.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Zappa?
Request a room on the 3rd floor back when booking — many 3-star hotels can note it. If driving, ask if they have a drop-off zone or nearby garage; street parking is tight on Via Esterna di Fontebranda.
What time is check-in at Casa Zappa?
Check-in at Casa Zappa is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Zappa have Wi-Fi?
Free, no password needed—signal is strong in rooms and lobby; average speed 25 Mbps down.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Zappa?
€2.50 per person per night, applied to guests aged 14 and over, payable on arrival in cash or by card.
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Zappa?
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a takeaway: €5–8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Zappa?
Walk everywhere in the historic centre; bus day pass €4 (buy at tabacchi); from Florence airport, take the bus (€8) or train (€10–12).
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May and September: pleasant 18–25°C weather, fewer crowds than summer, and the Palio isn't running so hotels are easier to book at reasonable rates.
Principales attractions à Siena
💡 Check for free guided tours on Saturday mornings. The reliquary containing her head is eerie but fascinating.
💡 Bring a picnic. It's less busy than the main parks. Paths can be steep — wear flat shoes.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light on the Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia. Early morning it's almost empty.
💡 Entry is €12 but the 'Porta del Cielo' rooftop tour costs extra. Go on a Sunday for free Mass entry — you still see the interior.
💡 Free on the first Sunday of each month. Otherwise €9. The underground 'sacred tunnels' are the highlight, not the modern art wing.