Skip to main content

CONCERTS, GUIDED VISITS AND SHOPPING FRENZY FOR THE 2013 SUMMER SOLSTICE IN SIENA


Santa Maria della Scala museum, Siena for opening of the Steve McCurry exhibition
Let's get this party started

 Sometimes I wonder whether the Monte dei Paschi fiasco and Siena's resulting financial crisis is a good thing. Okay, as a resident in Southern Tuscany I know only too well about the negative effects of the crisis of the world's oldest banks. However, if you observe closely, some positive aspects can be made out too. Like the new trade organisation, which has been founded in Siena by merchants and shop owners who want to help Palio town to get back on its feet. On their initiative Siena's museums, institutions, trade and cultural organisations have pulled together to organize the city's first NOTTE BIANCA. 

The longest day of the year and the start of summer (not that it wasn't hot enough so far) will be celebrated in Siena with a wide selection of events. 

The Santa Maria della Scala museum (including the Steve McCurry exhibition) and the Civic museum on piazza del Campo will stay open till midnight. So does Siena's cathedral, which also offers guided visits and classical concerts at the baptistery, crypt and OPA museum. 

Or see Siena by night from the rooftop of its cathedral or from the facade of the never finished new cathedral, which is accessed via the OPA museum (booking is needed for these guided visits). 

Not a friend of museum nights? Or already seen all of Siena's art by day? Just go shopping. Many of Siena's shops will be open till midnight and concerts and  street bands can be found all through town. 

NOTTE BIANCA IN SIENA - 21st of June 2013
For more information and a map with all the venues, visit the website of the initiators of the Notte Bianca (white night). Or just hang around town. It will be hard not to run into one or the other event during Siena's longest night of the year. 

For reservation of the guided visits to the cathedral, click through to the OPA museum website. 


Labels:
Location: Piazza del Duomo, 53100 Siena SI, Italia

Popular posts from this blog

SIENA AND THE MONTE DEI PASCHI CRISIS

The world's oldest banking institute (founded in 1472) has made it into the media big time since 2012. But not because of its longevity.  Wondering what the financial nigh tmare is all about? I'm still trying to figure it out - just as everybody else who's living in Southern Tuscany.   The crisis of the Monte dei Paschi bank isn't just about MPS employers losing their jobs and museums their funding (which on its own is already bad enough). But it's also about research, universities and even kindergartens. Basically every age group in and around Siena will be affected in some way or another by the drying up of the streams of money that supported most social and cultural aspects of Southern Tuscany.  Right, I would look worried too. Palazzo Spannocchi, part of the MPS HQ in piazza Salimbeni Want to know more?  The art newspaper has published a well researched article in April, which explains some of the artier effects of the bank's crisis.  
Read on...»

BEST BIKE RENTAL IN SIENA

Villa Catignano: one of the many beautiful places an e-bike can get you to from Siena A few years ago, I interviewed an American writer , who during her month-long stay in Siena whizzed through the city on a bicycle. This was an unusual sight - vespas are the two-wheelers of choice in Siena's hilly town center, not bikes like in mostly flat Florence.  But the invention of e-bikes is about to change this. The city of Siena has installed an  electric bike sharing program which is functioning well. However, it's mostly aimed at locals and residents, as its set-up is a little complicated for visitors who only stay a couple of days in town. Hence, for tourists, the best bike rental options in Siena are with the privately owned shops which supply bycicles of every size and type for a day or two or an entire week.  Giulia from Julskitchen.com cycling through the hills of Siena Siena Bike Shop rents out racing bycicles, hybrid and e-bikes and is a great optio...
Read on...»

DRIVING IN ITALY AND ROAD FINES IN SIENA

Thought if the Italians do it, you can do it too? These were the good old times. Speeding, bad parking and drink-driving are no longer part of the Italian way of life. Okay, the rules of the road still aren't as strictly followed as in Northern Europe, but things have definitely changed during the past decade.  With driving being more strict now, it's only right that paying your fine should become easier too. Siena and many other of Italy's tourist destinations have finally installed online payment. Click through to the website of Siena's town council  to get done with it right away.
Read on...»