The horse quiver with excitement at the starting line, al canapo. Sienese hearts quicken. Siena the historical city in Tuscany Italy yields the same positive emotions of energy and excitement. It is a special beautiful city that touches the very soul. It is Europe’s most unique city when it comes to Palazzo’s, mosaic art within the churches and the views over Tuscany are endless.
al canapo view from Pallazzo Tower
It is a romantic city full of wonderful food and views to take in the very heart, passion off what this city has to offer. Take at least two days to soak up the ambience and visit all the historical museums, churches and art galleries. They are truly stunning and unique.
In Siena earth is with us, not for us. The terracotta roofs are like an outdoor museum.
Hotel Santa Caterina
Whilst visiting this city I stayed at Hotel Santa Caterina which is just outside the historic city walls. This is a nice family-run hotel with a good retreat for families and friends. I was here with my family of four to soak up some of the stunning views from a two-bedroom apartment. It was overlooking the rolling hills just outside Siena. It was very quiet and I really felt like I was living like the Sienese. The two-bedroom apartment is in a building that is separate from the main hotel.
Reception And Gardens
It was lovely to sit and have breakfast in the gardens between the local trees seeing the olive trees, which is all about the heart of Italy, olive oil. When I look at these amazing views from the hotel it is wonderful to see the protection of the environment and the preservation of the landscape is being continually achieved through restoration and conservation of family’s properties.
The nostalgia here in the hotel has a presence and a continuous incentive that is pungent, gentle and stable for all of us who share with Siena the wonderful succession of seasons. Take the time to walk through the hotel and surroundings to smell, feel and embrace history.
Apartment Stay
The apartment is super clean it’s dated charm gives you a rustic Tuscany experience. The apartment has two large sleeping rooms for a family of four. The beds are clean and comfortable and very spacious. The living room has sofa beds in case more than four want to stay.
The large windows throughout the apartment have many views for me to take in.
The antique furniture and unique art around the apartment certainly remind me of being in Italy. The entrance is large and perfect for leaving your bags, shoes and all the extra travel items one needs for a two-day to two-week break.
There is plenty of cupboards for storage and fans.
The lounge room with stunning unobtrusive views of the Tuscan hills is lovely. It is very quiet and comfortable to lounge around. The dining table serves a brilliant purpose if you choose to eat dinner here.
Bathroom
The bathroom is functional and clean with excellent water pressure. There are plenty of large fluffy towels for a comfortable stay. The eco-friendly amenities wrapped in paper are lovely to see. There are two toilets which is very good for a large family stay.
No Air Conditioning
We were told upfront that the apartment has no air conditioning. I love views and space and was up for the compromise. Unfortunately, we were experiencing a rare African plume heat. The humidity was high and it was almost 40 degrees. This apartment remains bearably cool when you keep the shutters closed but it is very dark and the idea was to enjoy the views. At this heat, I would not recommend staying in this apartment, although the fans were good and plenty. I would recommend investing in air conditioning and charging higher prices as guests will pay for this comfort.
The rest of the hotel does have air conditioning and in July and August, I would opt for those. As for the cooler months, the apartment is a lovely place to stay and the views are stunning.
Seating area outside the apartment.
Breakfast
Breakfast was served in the garden with great Tuscan views available to enjoy traditional Italian food. What a gorgeous way to start the day. The staff were attentive and the service was excellent. The food was fresh and there were plenty of options for both adults and kids. To top it the coffee was perfect.
Conclusion
One could always enjoy staying here at Hotel Santa Caterina. This family-run hotel is very clean, organised and has a lovely feel to it. The private parking has amazing views and has secure pin based access. Hotel Santa Caterina has a lot of history and charm and I had a rustic stay here which is what Tuscany is all about. Its best features are the gardens, the views and close access to the centre of Siena. See you again soon.
Details
- Room reviewed: Two-bedroom apartment
- Website: www.hotelsantacaterinasiena.com/en-hotel-city-center/
- Address: Via Enea Silvio Piccolomini, 7, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
- Phone: +39 0577 221105
