Your stay — Mariani B&B
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 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.
The Property — Mariani B&B
Mariani B&B offers a straightforward, homey base inside a converted 17th-century palace, five minutes' walk from Piazza del Campo. The lobby feels like a modest living room—tiled floors, a small reception desk, a rack of local maps—rather than a grand foyer. Owner-run and family-friendly, it suits budget-conscious couples or solo travellers who want a clean, central room without paying for hotel extras. Breakfast is continental, served in a snug basement room with a kettle for tea at all hours.
Chronicles of Siena
Siena was founded as an Etruscan settlement, then grew into a wealthy medieval banking and wool-trading republic that rivalled Florence. Its narrow, hilly streets and Gothic architecture—brick palaces, the striped-duomo, the scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo—were largely built between the 12th and 14th centuries and preserved through later neglect. The city's identity today is fiercely local: the Palio horse race, held twice each summer, still divides the 17 contrade (districts) into a living pageant of loyalty and rivalry. Siena's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its university keeps a young, student-populated edge amid the museum crowds.
Best Time to Visit
Full Siena guide →Best months
May, June and September: warm days (22–28°C), low rainfall, long sunlight, and tourist numbers are high but not suffocating. The countryside is green, and outdoor tables stay lively without the mid-July heat.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the busiest, driven by the Palio on 2 July and 16 August—hotel prices double or triple, and many rooms are booked a year ahead. Temperatures often hit 35°C, and the city feels packed, especially during the Palio days, when temporary grandstands block the Piazza del Campo.
Budget shoulder season
Late April, early October: lower room rates by 30–50%, mild weather (15–22°C), fewer tourists, and still enough daylight for day trips. April can bring rain; October has harvest events in nearby Chianti.
Weather & packing
Siena sits on a hilltop at 322 metres, so summer days are hot but evenings can drop 10°C or more—a light jacket or cardigan is essential. Pack sturdy walking shoes: the city has steep cobbled alleys, and no car can reach many B&B entrances.
Live City Briefing — Siena
- The Palio di Siena runs on 2 July and 16 August 2026; if you're staying on those dates, expect street closures, no vehicle access in the centre after midday, and loud rehearsals the night before. Book dinner early or bring picnic supplies.
- Trenitalia's regional Siena–Florence line has intermittent service improvements in 2026; check the timetable for bus replacements on the Empoli stretch. The Santa Maria Novella route still takes about 1 hour 30 minutes by rail or direct bus.
- A new pedestrian zone on Via dei Pellegrini (from the cathedral to Piazza del Campo) started in spring 2026, reducing traffic noise and making the walk between main sights quieter but slightly longer for cars. Taxi drop-offs are now at the Porta Ovile gate.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mariani B&B, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor or higher at the back of the building, away from the street. The B&B is located directly on a city street in Siena, so rear-facing rooms will be quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the street. They will get traffic noise and may have less privacy.
Best views
Rooms at the front may overlook the street with typical Sienese buildings opposite; rear rooms look onto a courtyard or neighbouring buildings. No specific vista guaranteed.
Quietest floors
First floor and above, rear-facing. Upper floors (second floor if the building has them) will be quieter than lower ones.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from traffic and pedestrians. The lift adds occasional hum. No bar or restaurant on-site, so no late-night noise from that.
Insider tips
1. If you're driving, ask for parking guidance in advance — Siena's ZTL (limited traffic zone) can catch you out. 2. Request a higher-floor room when booking; the building has no lift, so specify if stairs are an issue.
- 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 — Mariani B&B
Free, password at check-in; ~12 Mbps down, fine for browsing and email, not for streaming
No passenger lift – all rooms on first floor via staircase (no ground-floor rooms)
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand
Check-in 14:00–20:00 daily; early bag-drop from 10:00 free; late check-out to 12:00 €30 (subject to availability, request ahead)
Free – leave bags in the ground-floor utility room; pick up by 19:00
No step-free entry (two steps at front door); no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathroom; not suitable for guests with limited mobility
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Parcheggio Stadio (Via Sallustio Bandini, 200 m) – €2.50/hour 08:00–20:00, €3.00 flat overnight; free street parking possible but very limited
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2.00 per person per night (under-12s exempt)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking (non-refundable); €50 incidental card hold on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Salvatore (139 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Museo archeologico del Chianti Senese — 63 m · ~1 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 45 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside banks for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux near Piazza del Campo or train stations, which charge high fees and poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted in shops and restaurants; Amex less so. Contactless works for most purchases under €25. Small trattorias and market stalls prefer cash.
Restaurants: round up or leave a few euros if service was good – no pressure. Taxis: rounding up to the nearest euro is fine. Hotel staff: €1-2 per bag for porters, nothing for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standing espresso at any bar counter costs around €1.10; sitting down can double the price.
A slice of pizza from a takeaway or a panino from a corner alimentari costs €4-6.
A pasta or meat main in a modest trattoria runs €10-14.
Head to the edges of Piazza del Mercato for cheap takeaways and pizza al taglio; avoid the main square where prices triple.
Conad and Coop are the main budget supermarkets in the area; both have several branches within walking distance of the historic centre.
Via Banchi di Sopra has mid-range international chains; for cheaper basics, try the Mercato di Siena (limited hours) or outlets near the train station.
Walking is the only cheap way to get around the centre – it’s compact. Airport bus from Florence airport (17€ one-way) is the budget option; no local day pass is worth buying.
Eat at lunchtime – fixed menus are cheap at trattorias. Fill a water bottle at the public fountains (free). Avoid dining on Piazza del Campo if you’re on a budget – prices are inflated.
Good to know — Siena
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · 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 Mariani B&B
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 45 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 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 Mariani B&B?
Request a room on the first floor or higher at the back of the building, away from the street. The B&B is located directly on a city street in Siena, so rear-facing rooms will be quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mariani B&B?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the street. They will get traffic noise and may have less privacy.
Is Mariani B&B noisy?
Street noise from traffic and pedestrians. The lift adds occasional hum. No bar or restaurant on-site, so no late-night noise from that.
Which rooms have the best views at Mariani B&B?
Rooms at the front may overlook the street with typical Sienese buildings opposite; rear rooms look onto a courtyard or neighbouring buildings. No specific vista guaranteed.
What are insider tips for staying at Mariani B&B?
1. If you're driving, ask for parking guidance in advance — Siena's ZTL (limited traffic zone) can catch you out. 2. Request a higher-floor room when booking; the building has no lift, so specify if stairs are an issue.
What time is check-in at Mariani B&B?
Check-in at Mariani B&B is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mariani B&B have Wi-Fi?
Free, password at check-in; ~12 Mbps down, fine for browsing and email, not for streaming
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mariani B&B?
€2.00 per person per night (under-12s exempt)
Where can I eat cheaply near Mariani B&B?
A slice of pizza from a takeaway or a panino from a corner alimentari costs €4-6.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mariani B&B?
Walking is the only cheap way to get around the centre – it’s compact. Airport bus from Florence airport (17€ one-way) is the budget option; no local day pass is worth buying.
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May, June and September: warm days (22–28°C), low rainfall, long sunlight, and tourist numbers are high but not suffocating. The countryside is green, and outdoor tables stay lively without the mid-July heat.
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.