Your stay — Podere La Chiusella
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The Property — Podere La Chiusella
Podere La Chiusella sits on a quiet hill just south of Siena’s city walls, a converted farmhouse with ochre walls, terracotta floors and a small olive grove. The lobby is a low-ceilinged room with a stone fireplace, a few armchairs and the smell of beeswax polish—no fuss, just the basics done well. It suits budget-conscious couples or solo travellers who want a clean, calm base within walking distance of the historic centre, not a resort experience.
Chronicles of Siena
Siena was founded as an Etruscan settlement and grew into a powerful banking centre during the 12th and 13th centuries, fiercely rivaling Florence. Its Gothic architecture—notably the striped marble Duomo and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo—dates largely from this golden age. The city’s government, the Republic of Siena, held out against Medici Florence until 1555, after which it declined into a provincial backwater. That very stagnation preserved its medieval street plan and brick buildings, making the centre a UNESCO World Heritage site now famous for its Palio horse race and Tuscan culinary traditions.
Best Time to Visit
Full Siena guide →Best months
May and September: warm days (22-26°C), low chance of rain, fewer tourists than midsummer, and the countryside is either green or harvest-gold. October also works for mild weather and olive harvest season.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak, dominated by the Palio on 2 July (and another on 16 August). Hotel prices double, the city swells with race fans and day-trippers, and midday heat can hit 35°C. Booking a year ahead is normal for Palio dates.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best shoulder months: March rates are lower but weather can be drizzly and cool (10-18°C). You’ll find 20-30% discounts on room rates and empty piazzas in April.
Weather & packing
July in Siena is dry and hot, but sudden evening thunderstorms can drop the temperature 10°C in an hour. Pack a light rain jacket or a compact umbrella even for midsummer, and always carry a reusable water bottle—the city’s public fountains provide free chilled water.
Live City Briefing — Siena
- The Siena tram-train project on the line to Empoli continues to cause sporadic disruption on regional services; check Trenitalia’s app before heading to the station.
- The Palazzo Pubblico’s Museo Civico now requires timed entry bookings online at least 48 hours in advance during July–August, though walk-up slots sometimes appear.
- In July 2026, the Contrada rehearsals for the Palio (the ‘prove’) run from 29 June to 1 July, closing parts of Piazza del Campo to regular foot traffic from late afternoon. The actual race is 2 July.
Hotel Facilities — Podere La Chiusella
free Wi-Fi in rooms and main building, speed ~20 Mbps, password provided at check-in; no tiered plans
no lift; all guest rooms on first floor accessed by stairs (historic farmhouse building)
no digital newsstand; free daily newspapers (Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica) in the breakfast room
check-in 14:00–20:00; early bag drop allowed from 11:00; late check-out fee of €40 until 14:00, subject to availability
free storage in the office; lockers not available
no step-free access; gravel driveway and 3 stone steps at entrance; interior threshold steps to some rooms; not suitable for wheelchair users
free on-site private parking for up to 15 cars in an unpaved lot; no EV charging; nearest public car park is Parcheggio San Prospero (€1.50/hour, 5 min walk)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €3.50 per person per night for up to 3 nights, children under 12 exempt
Deposit & card hold: full prepayment required at booking; €200 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista (931 m · ~12 min walk)
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the train station or anywhere near Piazza del Campo, which have poor rates and high fees.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels, but many smaller bars and market stalls still prefer cash, especially for purchases under €10. Contactless is common.
Not expected or obligatory. Round up the bill in restaurants for good service (€1–2), leave small change for taxi drivers, and hotel staff are fine with nothing.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso (caffè) at a bar counter costs about €1.10–1.30. Sitting at a table in a piazza can triple that.
A panino or schiacciata sandwich from a bakery or alimentari, plus a drink, for around €6–8.
A pizza margherita or a simple pasta dish in a trattoria outside the tourist centre costs about €10–12 for a main.
Look for bakeries and rosticcerie on side streets off Via Banchi di Sopra or near the Mercato di Siena for takeaway pizza slices, arancini, and filled focaccia.
Coop and Conad are the two main supermarket chains in Siena; there's a Conad on Viale Vittorio Veneto and a Coop on Via Massetana Romana.
Main shopping street Via Banchi di Sopra has Italian high-street chains like OVS, Coin, and local shoe shops. The Tuesday market on Via Vittorio Emanuele II sells affordable clothing and accessories.
Walking is the only sensible way around the historic centre. For the hillier outskirts, buy a single bus ticket (€1.50) from a tabaccaio. From Florence airport, take the shuttle bus to Florence train station (€6), then a regional train to Siena (roughly €9–10).
Buy skip-the-line tickets online for the Duomo complex to avoid queues. Eat at places where Italians queue at lunchtime, not the piazza-facing restaurants. For museums, check if you qualify for a Siena Card or have EU student/youth discounts.
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 Podere La Chiusella
🕒 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 time is check-in at Podere La Chiusella?
Check-in at Podere La Chiusella is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Podere La Chiusella have Wi-Fi?
free Wi-Fi in rooms and main building, speed ~20 Mbps, password provided at check-in; no tiered plans
Is there a city or tourist tax at Podere La Chiusella?
€3.50 per person per night for up to 3 nights, children under 12 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near Podere La Chiusella?
A panino or schiacciata sandwich from a bakery or alimentari, plus a drink, for around €6–8.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Podere La Chiusella?
Walking is the only sensible way around the historic centre. For the hillier outskirts, buy a single bus ticket (€1.50) from a tabaccaio. From Florence airport, take the shuttle bus to Florence train station (€6), then a regional train to Siena (roughly €9–10).
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May and September: warm days (22-26°C), low chance of rain, fewer tourists than midsummer, and the countryside is either green or harvest-gold. October also works for mild weather and olive harvest season.
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.