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Square · Siena, Toscana
Piazza del Campo
Siena's central square, shell-shaped and sloping, divided into nine segments, where the Palio is run on July 2 and August 16.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Piazza del Campo
Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena. It sits at the point where the city's three hills meet and is shell-shaped, with a brick pavement sloping toward the Palazzo Pubblico. Nine bands of light stone divide the pavement into nine sections, a reminder of the Governo dei Nove, which governed the city from the late 13th to the mid-14th century.
The palaces around the square follow its curve and have similar heights and windows, due to rules imposed in the Middle Ages. At the top of the square stands the Fonte Gaia, a marble fountain created by Jacopo della Quercia in the early 15th century. The one seen today is a 19th-century copy; the original reliefs are in Santa Maria della Scala.
Twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, the square turns into the Palio track. Ten of the seventeen contrade, the city's neighborhoods, race three laps on horseback, bareback, for a few seconds of sprint. In the days before there are trials and parades, and earth covers the edge of the square. The center of the Campo is open to the public but fills up hours in advance and there is no guarantee of space.
For the rest of the year, the square is where Sienese and visitors sit on the ground to rest, talk and watch the activity.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 20 minutes to an hour, plus time for a meal or for resting on the square's pavement.
Best time
Early in the morning, before the tour groups, and at night, when the square is lit. On Palio days, July 2 and August 16, and during the trial races in the days before, the square is closed and packed.
How to get there
It is in the center of Siena. From the terminus of buses from Florence, at Piazza Gramsci, it's about a 10-minute walk along Via Banchi di Sopra. From the train station, take a local bus or the escalators and walk about 20 minutes.
Tip
Restaurants with tables on the square charge for the view. To eat, the streets just behind usually offer simpler options. To watch the Palio, arrive many hours early and bring water.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Piazza del Campo
When is the Palio of Siena?
On 2 July and 16 August. In the three days beforehand there are trials in the square, and occasionally extraordinary Palios are held on other dates.
Can you attend the Palio without a ticket?
The center of the piazza is open to the public and free of charge, but it fills up hours in advance and those who enter stand, often unable to leave until the end. Seats in the grandstands are sold in advance by private parties.
Why is the piazza sloped?
It was built at the meeting point of Siena's three hills, on a natural slope that descends toward the Palazzo Pubblico. The tilt helps drain rainwater.
What is the Fonte Gaia?
It is the marble fountain at the top of the piazza, created by Jacopo della Quercia in the 15th century. The one there now is a copy; the original reliefs are housed in Santa Maria della Scala.