Piazza del CampoAbout Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is Siena’s principal medieval square, famed for its distinctive shell shape and acoustic arrangement of civic buildings. It dates to the 13th and 14th centuries and functions as the city’s civic and social focal point.
Major attractions around the square include the Palazzo Pubblico, the civic palace with its art-filled chambers, the tall Torre del Mangia and the decorative Fonte Gaia. The piazza’s brick paving is laid out in nine segments that converge on the central drain.
The square stages the twice-yearly Palio horse race, a traditional and tightly contested competition between city wards that transforms the piazza into an arena. The site has served as Siena’s administrative and ceremonial centre since the city’s communal period in the Middle Ages.
Piazza del Campo sits in the heart of Siena’s historic centre, on a hillside of Tuscany, with narrow streets radiating away from the square and easy walking access from the city’s main gates.
- Palio dates: The Palio horse race is held in the square twice yearly on fixed dates - 2 July and 16 August - when the piazza is transformed into a temporary race track.
- Photo tip: For the best unobstructed photographs of the shell-shaped paving and the surrounding facades, visit in the early morning before cafés and visitors arrive.
What to See#
- Palazzo Pubblico: A 14th century civic palace built as the seat of Siena’s government, featuring fresco cycles including Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s ‘Allegory of Good and Bad Government’.
- Torre del Mangia: A slender civic tower built in the 14th century that rises above the square and offers panoramic views over Siena for those who climb its steps.
- Fonte Gaia: A large decorative fountain that occupies the northern edge of the square; the present sculptural decoration dates from later restorations of the original medieval fountain.
Best Time to Visit Piazza del Campo
Visit Siena's Piazza del Campo in spring or autumn for pleasant weather and fewer crowds; avoid peak summer days and the Palio if you want to steer clear of large crowds.
Weather & Climate near Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 3°C to 29°C. Moderate rainfall (772 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 3° - 9° | 5° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| February | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 6° | 60 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 1.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.3h |
| March | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 8° | 63 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 7° - 17° | 12° | 70 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 2.1 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.3h |
| May | Very Good | 11° - 22° | 16° | 58 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 1.9 m/s | 1.5 high | 14.5h |
| June | Excellent | 15° - 25° | 20° | 53 mm | some cloud | 61% | 1.9 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.2h |
| July | Ideal | 17° - 29° | 23° | 30 mm | mostly sunny | 54% | 2.0 m/s | 2.0 very high | 14.9h |
| August | Ideal | 17° - 28° | 23° | 40 mm | mostly sunny | 57% | 1.8 m/s | 1.6 very high | 13.8h |
| September | Excellent | 14° - 24° | 19° | 65 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 1.7 m/s | 1.0 high | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 11° - 19° | 15° | 88 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 1.6 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.9h |
| November | Acceptable | 7° - 14° | 10° | 101 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| December | Acceptable | 3° - 10° | 5° | 82 mm | partly cloudy | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
How to Get to Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is in the heart of Siena’s medieval centre. From Siena railway station it’s an uphill walk of about 15-25 minutes (roughly 1-2 km) along Via Roma and into the historic centre; local buses (Tiemme) also connect the station with stops near the old town. Once in the centro storico the piazza is pedestrianised and reached on foot.
Tips for Visiting Piazza del Campo
- Arrive very early in the morning to enjoy Piazza del Campo with minimal crowds and to see local life before tour groups and lunch-time terraces fill the square.
- Enter the shell from the narrower streets (for example from Via di Citte0 or Banchi di Sopra) to approach gradually and avoid the busiest photographer spots directly facing the Palazzo Pubblico.
- Dont only photograph the shells exterior; consider climbing the Torre del Mangia or visiting the Civic Museum inside the Palazzo Pubblico for the frescoes and city views that many day visitors skip.