Your stay — Podere La Selva
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The Property — Podere La Selva
Podere La Selva is a working farmhouse just outside Siena, with terracotta floors, wooden beams, and a pool overlooking olive groves. It’s unfussy and peaceful — the sort of place where you park by the apricot tree and hear nothing but cicadas. The lobby doubles as a breakfast room with a sideboard of homemade cakes and cold meats. It suits travellers who want a quiet base with rural character, not luxury or frills.
Chronicles of Siena
Siena was founded by the Etruscans, then became a major banking and trade centre in the 12th–14th centuries under its republican government. Its Gothic architecture — narrow streets, the scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo, and the striped-duomo — is remarkably intact because plague halted expansion in 1348. The Palio, a bareback horse race around the piazza, has run almost continuously since the 17th century. Today Siena is a Unesco World Heritage site, fiercely proud of its contrade (neighbourhoods) and slow pace of life.
Best Time to Visit
Full Siena guide →Best months
May, June, September — warm 20–28°C, low rain, and crowds thin outside August; the countryside is green.
Peak / festival surge
July–August, especially Palio week (2 July & 16 August). Hotels triple prices, the city heaves with race fans, and daytime heat hits 35°C. Palio draws 50,000+ into the piazza.
Budget shoulder season
April and October — 15–22°C, cheaper rooms (30–40% off peak), and you’ll see spring blossoms or autumn harvests without queuing for the duomo.
Weather & packing
Siena’s hilltop position means sudden thunder-squalls in summer, even after a clear morning. Pack a light waterproof layer and sturdy walking shoes — the alleys are cobbled and steep.
Live City Briefing — Siena
- Siena’s heritage bus service from the train station to Piazza Gramsci is running a reduced summer schedule in 2026; check the Tiemme app or buy tickets at the tabacchi before boarding.
- The external restoration of Siena Cathedral’s facade finishes in June 2026 — scaffolding is down, so you’ll get clear photos for the first time in three years.
- Palio di Siena heat races (the ‘prove’) start 29 June for the 2 July race; expect road closures and louder drum practice in the evenings around the Campo from late June.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Podere La Selva, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (piano primo) at the back of the building, away from the street. These rooms get more sunlight and face the garden or courtyard, giving you a quieter experience.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the main road (Via della Selva) — they catch street noise and may feel damp in rainy months. Also skip rooms near the reception or breakfast area, as foot traffic can be disruptive early morning.
Best views
Ask for a room with a view of the surrounding Tuscan hills or the olive groves — this hotel sits on a hillside just outside Siena's walls, so some rooms have panoramic windows.
Quietest floors
First floor (piano primo) and above, ideally rooms ending in 'A' or 'B' that face the internal courtyard or garden.
🔊 Noise notes
The main noise source is the local road (Via della Selva) which carries morning delivery vans and occasional tourist traffic. The hotel has no lift in the main building, so if you're on upper floors, expect some hall noise from stairs.
Insider tips
1) If driving, park in the hotel's private car park — it's tight but free, and saves you battling Siena's ZTL (limited traffic zone). 2) Request a room on the first floor to avoid carrying luggage up narrow stairs, as the hotel is a converted farmhouse with no passenger lift.
- 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 — Podere La Selva
Free WiFi throughout property; speed around 15 Mbps download; no login required, one network key for all devices
No lift. The main building has stairs only; annex rooms on ground floor have no stairs
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. The main building (13th-century farmhouse) has original stone walls and exposed beams
Check-in 14:00–20:00; early bag drop available from 10:00; late check-out (by 12:00 instead of 10:30) €30, request by 18:00 prior
Free for early arrival or post-check-out; keep at reception or leave in locked luggage room
Ground-floor annex rooms (one with a wide door) accessed via a ramp; main building steps only; no wheelchair-accessible bathroom in standard rooms
Free on-site parking (uncovered, gravel surface). Nearest public car park is Parcheggio Stazione (€15/night summer, 2 km away via bus). No EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2 per person per night (mandatory, paid at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: A 30% advance deposit required at booking; a €100 incidental hold on a credit card at check-in
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Farmacia Monteriggioni — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for good rates; avoid exchange bureaux near Piazza del Campo and the airport.
Visa/Mastercard accepted almost everywhere; contactless is standard; Amex not widely taken.
Not expected; round up the bill or leave a few euros for good service in restaurants. Taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter: around €1.20–€1.50.
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a rosticceria: about €5–€7.
Pasta dish in a trattoria away from piazze: around €10–€14.
Via di Città and Piazza del Mercato have a few takeaway places; look for lampredotto or trippa stands.
Conad and Coop are common; there's a Conad near Porta Romana.
H&M and Zara on Via Banchi di Sopra; weekly market at Fortezza Medicea on Wednesday mornings.
On foot, it's all walkable. For buses, a single ticket €1.70 (valid 70 min) from tabacchi. No airport train; shuttle bus takes you to Piazza Gramsci for around €2.
Eat lunch at a trattoria for cheaper fixed-price menus; buy a Siena Card for museum entry if visiting multiple sites; fill up water bottles at the public fountains (free).
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 Selva
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Farmacia Monteriggioni — 1.8 km · ~22 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.
About Siena
Wikipedia ↗
Siena ( see-EN-ə, Italian: [ˈsjɛːna, ˈsjeːna] ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; Latin: Saena Iulia) is a city in Tuscany, in Central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. With a population of 52,991, it is the 12th-largest city in the region as of 2025. The city is historically l...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Podere La Selva?
Request a room on the first floor (piano primo) at the back of the building, away from the street. These rooms get more sunlight and face the garden or courtyard, giving you a quieter experience.
Which rooms should I avoid at Podere La Selva?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those facing the main road (Via della Selva) — they catch street noise and may feel damp in rainy months. Also skip rooms near the reception or breakfast area, as foot traffic can be disruptive early morning.
Is Podere La Selva noisy?
The main noise source is the local road (Via della Selva) which carries morning delivery vans and occasional tourist traffic. The hotel has no lift in the main building, so if you're on upper floors, expect some hall noise from stairs.
Which rooms have the best views at Podere La Selva?
Ask for a room with a view of the surrounding Tuscan hills or the olive groves — this hotel sits on a hillside just outside Siena's walls, so some rooms have panoramic windows.
What are insider tips for staying at Podere La Selva?
1) If driving, park in the hotel's private car park — it's tight but free, and saves you battling Siena's ZTL (limited traffic zone). 2) Request a room on the first floor to avoid carrying luggage up narrow stairs, as the hotel is a converted farmhouse with no passenger lift.
What time is check-in at Podere La Selva?
Check-in at Podere La Selva is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Podere La Selva have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout property; speed around 15 Mbps download; no login required, one network key for all devices
Is there a city or tourist tax at Podere La Selva?
€2 per person per night (mandatory, paid at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Podere La Selva?
Pizza al taglio or a panino from a rosticceria: about €5–€7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Podere La Selva?
On foot, it's all walkable. For buses, a single ticket €1.70 (valid 70 min) from tabacchi. No airport train; shuttle bus takes you to Piazza Gramsci for around €2.
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May, June, September — warm 20–28°C, low rain, and crowds thin outside August; the countryside is green.
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.