11 Facts About Siena

Siena is home to the oldest bank in the world, the Monte dei Paschi bank, which has been operating continuously since 1472.

University of Siena, originally called Studium Senese, was founded in 1240, making it one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world.

Siena was one of the most important cities in medieval Europe, and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year in Piazza del Campo.

Siena prospered as a trading post, and the constant streams of pilgrims passing to and from Rome provided a valuable source of income in the centuries to come.

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Siena is located in the central part of Tuscany, in the middle of a vast hilly landscape between the Arbia river valley, the Merse valley, the Elsa valley, the Chianti hills, the Montagnola Senese and the Crete Senesi .

In 2015, the research plant in Siena became part of Glaxo Smith Kline, as part of a deal between Novartis and this firm.

Siena Cathedral, begun in the 12th century, is a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque–Gothic architecture.

Siena Cathedral Pulpit is an octagonal 13th-century masterpiece sculpted by Nicola Pisano with lion pedestals and biblical bas-relief panels.

Siena Mobilita was a consortium established in 2005, formed by Tiemme Toscana Mobilita, Busitalia Sita Nord e ByBus, to manage the local public transport in Siena, in its province and regional service to Florence and Arezzo.

From 1 January 2018 Siena Mobilita operated by virtue of the bridge contract between the Regione Toscana and the company ONE Scarl.