🇮🇹 Siena, Italy
I Gelsomini
📍 15, Strada Massetana, Siena, 53100
Photo: official website
Il tuo soggiorno — I Gelsomini
Previsioni dal vivo per le tue date · Cosa c'è su · Qualità dell'aria e polline📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Siena.
La proprietà — I Gelsomini
I Gelsomini is a straightforward three-star just inside the walls near Porta San Marco, run by a family who clearly care about the garden. The lobby has tile floors, a small reception desk, and a calm, slightly dated feel — think solid wooden furniture, not design flourishes. Its main draw is the private parking (rare inside Siena) and the peaceful outdoor space, but it also does a solid, basic continental breakfast. Best suited to car-borne travellers who need a clean, quiet base within walking distance of the Campo.
Cronache di Siena
Siena was founded by the Etruscans (the Senones tribe) and grew into a major banking and trading centre in the 13th and 14th centuries, peaking before the Black Death of 1348. Its Gothic architecture — the black-and-white marble Duomo, the Piazza del Campo's scallop-shell layout — was largely built during this golden age. The city never recovered its medieval prominence, which ironically preserved its historic core from later development. Today it's a UNESCO World Heritage site and a university town, with a fierce local identity centred on the 17 contrade (neighbourhoods) that stage the twice-yearly Palio horse race.
Il momento migliore per visitare
Guida completa di Siena →I migliori mesi
May, June, September — warm but not blistering, daylight long, crowds manageable outside July–August heat and school holidays. May has fresh greenery; June brings long evenings before the Palio frenzy.
Peak / Festival Surge
July (Palio on 2 July) and August (Palio on 16 August). The city doubles in population, hotel prices spike 50–100%, and restaurants fill up. Even if you skip the race, the two weeks before each Palio have trials and contrada dinners that make the city electric but frantic.
Stagione di spalla
Late April and early October offer mild weather (15–22°C), significant hotel discounts (20–40% off peak), and fewer tourists. The Palio crowd is gone; the grape harvest and olive pressing add a working-rural character.
Meteo e imballaggio
Siena sits on a hill at 320m, so summer nights can be 10–12°C cooler than daytime highs; a light jacket or wrap is essential even in July. Pack sturdy walking shoes — the city is a vertical maze of steep cobbled streets.
Briefing della città — Siena
- The Siena tram/train station services have been reduced in 2025–26 due to track maintenance; check Trenitalia for replacement buses if arriving by rail.
- Several new bars and small restaurants have opened around Via di Pantaneto and the San Martino district this year, including a highly rated enoteca focused on local Chianti and pici pasta.
- The Palio di Siena on 2 July 2026 will be held as usual in Piazza del Campo, but note that the surrounding streets close from midday; hotel access may require advance passes from your property.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to I Gelsomini, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, one flight up) facing the internal courtyard. These rooms are quieter than street-facing ones and have easier stair access if the lift is small or slow.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing Strada Massetana — a main road outside the historic centre, so morning traffic noise is likely. Also skip any rooms near the lift shaft (often indicated by a thin wall or vent) if you are a light sleeper.
Best views
Front-facing rooms give a view over Strada Massetana and the surrounding hills — decent, but expect traffic. Back/courtyard views are greener and much quieter.
Quietest floors
Floors 1–2 are the quietest: above street-level bustle but not so high that roof or service noise becomes an issue.
🔊 Noise notes
Strada Massetana carries local traffic and is a main route into Siena, so morning and evening rush hours produce steady vehicle noise. Inside, the lift is small and may whine, especially in older 3-star buildings.
Insider tips
Ask reception for a room key to the small rooftop terrace (if available) — a quiet spot for an evening drink. Parking is tight: pre-book a spot if you drive, or use the public lot 200m east on Strada Massetana.
- 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
strutture alberghiere — I Gelsomini
Free WiFi throughout; download speed ~15 Mbps; no login required, just accept terms on landing page
One small lift serves all 3 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital PressReader access via QR code at reception; no physical papers delivered
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs €25 (if available)
Free luggage storage room available on request at check-in or after check-out, open until 18:00
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door; lift large enough for wheelchair; no adapted bathrooms in standard rooms
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars (unreserved, first-come-first-served); nearest public car park at Parcheggio Stazione, €2 per hour / €12 per day; no EV charging
Tasse, imposte e depositi
City / tourist tax: €3 per person per night, payable at check-in, children under 12 exempt
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card required at booking; a €50 incidental hold placed on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary vicino
- Church: Chiesa delle Clarisse (136 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: San Niccolò al Carmine (260 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa dei Santi Quirico e Giulitta (295 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Santa Marta (340 m · ~4 min walk)
Stile di vita e ricreazione locale
Galleria PortaSiena — 2.4 km · ~29 min walk
Oliveta della Contrada della Chiocciola — 212 m · ~3 min walk
Museo di Scienze della Terra — 230 m · ~3 min walk
Teatro del Costone — 523 m · ~7 min walk
Parco Maria Montessori — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
5 minuti di radio essenziali
Nearest — 532 m · ~7 min walk
Farmacia Liserani — 556 m · ~7 min walk
Carrefour Express — 363 m · ~5 min walk
Terminal Bus Siena La Lizza — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Moneta e moneta
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.
Mangiare, fare shopping e viaggiare su 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.
Buono da sapere — 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 I Gelsomini
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 532 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Liserani — 556 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Girare intorno
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.
Domande frequenti
What are the best rooms at I Gelsomini?
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, one flight up) facing the internal courtyard. These rooms are quieter than street-facing ones and have easier stair access if the lift is small or slow.
Which rooms should I avoid at I Gelsomini?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor facing Strada Massetana — a main road outside the historic centre, so morning traffic noise is likely. Also skip any rooms near the lift shaft (often indicated by a thin wall or vent) if you are a light sleeper.
Is I Gelsomini noisy?
Strada Massetana carries local traffic and is a main route into Siena, so morning and evening rush hours produce steady vehicle noise. Inside, the lift is small and may whine, especially in older 3-star buildings.
Which rooms have the best views at I Gelsomini?
Front-facing rooms give a view over Strada Massetana and the surrounding hills — decent, but expect traffic. Back/courtyard views are greener and much quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at I Gelsomini?
Ask reception for a room key to the small rooftop terrace (if available) — a quiet spot for an evening drink. Parking is tight: pre-book a spot if you drive, or use the public lot 200m east on Strada Massetana.
What time is check-in at I Gelsomini?
Check-in at I Gelsomini is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does I Gelsomini have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; download speed ~15 Mbps; no login required, just accept terms on landing page
Is there a city or tourist tax at I Gelsomini?
€3 per person per night, payable at check-in, children under 12 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near I Gelsomini?
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a takeaway: €5–8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from I Gelsomini?
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, June, September — warm but not blistering, daylight long, crowds manageable outside July–August heat and school holidays. May has fresh greenery; June brings long evenings before the Palio frenzy.
Principali attrazioni a 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.