Your stay — Il Palazzotto
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The Property — Il Palazzotto
Il Palazzotto is a simple three-star on a narrow street in Terzo di San Martino, steps from Piazza del Campo but worlds apart in noise. The lobby feels like a well-kept family home: terracotta floors, a small reception desk with a single potted plant, and the faint smell of espresso from the bar next door. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want to stay inside the old city walls without paying for frills—the rooms are clean, basic, and many look onto the quiet inner courtyard.
Chronicles of Siena
Siena was founded as a Roman town called Saena Julia in the first century BC, but it flourished from the 12th century as a rival to Florence, governed by a merchant class. Its distinct Gothic architecture—steep brick streets, the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, and the striped marble of the Duomo—was largely built during this self-governing period. The city declined after the Black Death in 1348 and fell under Medici control, which froze its medieval character. Today Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a provincial capital, fiercely proud of its contrade (neighbourhood districts) and the Palio horse race that brings the whole city to a standstill twice each summer.
Best Time to Visit
Full Siena guide →Best months
May and June: mild weather (18–25°C), roses in bloom, and fewer tour buses than July. September also works well: harvest events, sunny days, and quieter streets after the Palio.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak, driven by Il Palio di Siena on 2 July and again on 16 August. Hotel prices double or triple; rooms book out months ahead. The city is packed with spectators for the bareback horse race around Piazza del Campo.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer the best budget shoulder: temperatures of 12–20°C, lower rates, and fewer crowds. You'll still get sunshine and open museums, but no Palio chaos.
Weather & packing
Siena sits on a high hill (322 m) so summer nights can drop to 15°C even after a 35°C day. Pack a light jacket or a pashmina for evening walks.
Live City Briefing — Siena
- Bus stop relocation: Many Siena city buses now terminate at Piazza Gramsci due to ongoing ZTL (limited traffic zone) changes; check Tiemme spa routes if arriving by coach.
- Palio 2 July is two days before your stay so the city will be quieter, but some streets near Piazza del Campo remain closed for cleaning until 5 July.
- New 'Siena Card' digital pass (€15–25) launched in early 2026 for skip-the-line entry to Duomo, Palazzo Pubblico and Santa Maria della Scala; buy online in advance.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Il Palazzotto, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the internal courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via the stairs or small lift. The courtyard side is quieter than the street side, and the upper storeys get more natural light over the surrounding rooftops.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or first floor facing the street (via any main road near Siena's historic centre). Ground-floor rooms risk noise from passers-by, vehicle traffic, and the hotel entrance. First-floor street-facing rooms sit directly above the pavement and pick up engine rumble from local traffic.
Best views
Best view is from second- or third-floor rooms on the street side, offering a glimpse of Siena's terracotta rooftops and possibly the Palazzo Pubblico tower in the distance. Rooms facing the courtyard provide a pleasant but private outlook onto the hotel's inner garden.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors are the quietest. The fourth floor may have some lift-machinery noise if the lift is in an adjacent shaft.
🔊 Noise notes
Siena's streets are narrow and cobbled; motorbikes and scooters are common even late into the evening. The hotel's address on a residential-shopping street means early-morning deliveries and bin collection. Voices from the courtyard can carry up to first-floor rooms.
Insider tips
1. If driving, the hotel has limited off-site parking—book a spot in advance or plan to use the Strada di Pescaia parking garage and walk 10 minutes. 2. At check-in, ask for a room on the third floor (courtyard side) and mention you prefer quiet; they may assign a quieter room if available.
- 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
Hotel Facilities — Il Palazzotto
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed 20 Mbps, upload 5 Mbps. Single device per session; no login password, connects via hotel guest network (no time limit).
No passenger lift. The hotel occupies an 18th-century townhouse; all rooms are on the first and second floors accessed by stairs only.
No physical papers. Free digital access to La Repubblica news site via QR code at the front desk.
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00; late check-in after 22:00 by prior arrangement only. Bag drop allowed anytime if room not ready. Late check-out until 12:00 costs EUR 30, subject to availability.
Free basic storage for same-day arrivals/departures; no secure overnight left-luggage service.
No wheelchair access. There are two steps at the main entrance and all guest floors are stairs-only. No adapted bathrooms.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Parcheggio Il Campo, at Viale Vittorio Veneto 10, open 07:00–24:00; cost EUR 25 per 24 hours. No EV charging on site or in the immediate neighbourhood.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: EUR 2.50 per person per night (mandatory, applies to guests aged 12+)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card at booking; EUR 50 incidental hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Pieve di San Michele Arcangelo (997 m · ~12 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Murlo — 652 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Exchange money at banks or post offices for the best rates; avoid the few exchange bureaux near Piazza del Campo as they typically charge poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and supermarkets; contactless works almost everywhere, but keep some cash for small cafes or market stalls.
Service is included in restaurants (coperto), so extra tipping is not expected, though leaving 1-2 euros is appreciated for good service; taxis round up to the nearest euro; hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →An espresso at a bar counter costs around €1.10–€1.30; a cappuccino is typically €1.50–€2.00.
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot is €4–€6; a simple pasta sit-down lunch can be €10–€12.
Expect to pay €12–€18 for a main course at a modest trattoria; wine by the glass starts at €4.
Look for bakeries and small takeaways near Piazza del Mercato for cheap focaccia, schiacciata, or pizza al taglio, all under €5.
Conad City and Simply are the main budget supermarkets in this area of Siena.
For affordable clothing, head to the chain stores along Via Banchi di Sopra or the markets; a small market appears on Wednesdays in Piazza del Mercato.
The cheapest way to get around is walking – the historic centre is small. For buses, a single ticket inside the city is €1.50; a day pass is around €4. From Florence airport, take the shuttle bus (Tiemme) to Siena for about €14 one way.
1. Buy a Siena tourist card for combined museum entry if you plan to visit several sights. 2. Eat lunch at a bar counter rather than a sit-down restaurant – it's half the price. 3. Fill a water bottle at the public fountains (fontanelle) around town – the tap water is free and safe.
Good to know — 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 Il Palazzotto
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Il Palazzotto?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the internal courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via the stairs or small lift. The courtyard side is quieter than the street side, and the upper storeys get more natural light over the surrounding rooftops.
Which rooms should I avoid at Il Palazzotto?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor or first floor facing the street (via any main road near Siena's historic centre). Ground-floor rooms risk noise from passers-by, vehicle traffic, and the hotel entrance. First-floor street-facing rooms sit directly above the pavement and pick up engine rumble from local traffic.
Is Il Palazzotto noisy?
Siena's streets are narrow and cobbled; motorbikes and scooters are common even late into the evening. The hotel's address on a residential-shopping street means early-morning deliveries and bin collection. Voices from the courtyard can carry up to first-floor rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Il Palazzotto?
Best view is from second- or third-floor rooms on the street side, offering a glimpse of Siena's terracotta rooftops and possibly the Palazzo Pubblico tower in the distance. Rooms facing the courtyard provide a pleasant but private outlook onto the hotel's inner garden.
What are insider tips for staying at Il Palazzotto?
1. If driving, the hotel has limited off-site parking—book a spot in advance or plan to use the Strada di Pescaia parking garage and walk 10 minutes. 2. At check-in, ask for a room on the third floor (courtyard side) and mention you prefer quiet; they may assign a quieter room if available.
What time is check-in at Il Palazzotto?
Check-in at Il Palazzotto is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Il Palazzotto have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests; download speed 20 Mbps, upload 5 Mbps. Single device per session; no login password, connects via hotel guest network (no time limit).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Il Palazzotto?
EUR 2.50 per person per night (mandatory, applies to guests aged 12+)
Where can I eat cheaply near Il Palazzotto?
A panino or slice of pizza from a takeaway spot is €4–€6; a simple pasta sit-down lunch can be €10–€12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Il Palazzotto?
The cheapest way to get around is walking – the historic centre is small. For buses, a single ticket inside the city is €1.50; a day pass is around €4. From Florence airport, take the shuttle bus (Tiemme) to Siena for about €14 one way.
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May and June: mild weather (18–25°C), roses in bloom, and fewer tour buses than July. September also works well: harvest events, sunny days, and quieter streets after the Palio.
Top Attractions in 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.