The medieval city of Siena is located in the central-southern area of Tuscany. Expect to see the stunning Siena Cathedral, renowned artwork, and the popular Il Campo, a piazza famous for its horserace. With so much history and culture, Siena is unsurprisingly a popular tourist destination. If you're planning a trip to the gorgeous city and looking for a posh stay, we're here to help. Though there aren't many luxury options, we'll keep updating this list as we visit more of the city's top accommodations. For now, here's our pick for a luxury hotel in Siena.
The only luxury hotel in Siena's centro storico, or historic center, the Grand Hotel Continental is a lovingly restored Renaissance palazzo -- originally a wedding gift from Pope Alexander VII -- and is within a stone's throw of all the city's iconic sights. Rooms range in size and style, but all are inflected with Tuscany's signature Renaissance gilt; lower-priced rooms still have ornate chandeliers, heavy drapes, and rich upholstery, while suites have high, frescoed ceilings, antique furnishings, and panoramic views of the city. Apart from a wine cellar bar and a fine-dining restaurant serving gourmet Tuscan cuisine, there are few other common spaces or facilities (there's no fitness center, pool, or spa), although the grand ballroom would be a memorable place for events. The high price tag is hard to justify given these missing features and the slight wear in some of the rooms, but then there are no comparable options with this level of grandeur and the location can't be beat.