Slow Paced trip to Siena
8th – 12th November 2026
The city of Siena is an enchanting place to spend a few days and it should be relatively free from crowds in November. Once a fierce rival of its larger neighbour Florence, Siena was able to attract artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello and thus within the complex of its stunning cathedral there is a wealth of art to study. Add to this a rich local school of painting, with important names including Duccio, Simone Martini and the Lorenzetti brothers and you see that this is truly a unique cultural centre. We will visit the well-known sights as well as several off the beaten track. We will also have the chance to visit the studio of Marco Caratelli, a charming and highly skilled master of tempera painting and gold leaf.
We will stay in the best hotel in town, beautifully frescoed and a stone’s throw from the Campo. Add in great food, wine-tasting and good company and you have a perfect winter break.
Itinerary
Sunday 8th November
We hope to take a flight which lands at midday and we will drive on to Siena. Once we have settled into our hotel, we will begin exploring this beautiful city by walking its winding streets to the Piazza del Campo. The site of the famous Palio horse race, this is the ideal place to discuss the rich history of the city and its particular system of rule, the legacy of which is still felt in the city today. We will visit the Palazzo Pubblico where we will admire the pinnacle of achievements of Siena’s finest artists – Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, the latter being the author of the iconic scenes of Good and Bad Government. This is currently under restoration and if the work is still not finished when we are there, then we hope to be able to gain private access to the restoration project.
We will start the evening with a wine-tasting and nibbles in the beautiful cellars of our 16th century hotel, followed by dinner at an excellent restaurant nearby.
Monday 9th November
In the morning, we will focus on the religious hub of the city by starting to explore the many sites of the Cathedral complex. The cathedral itself is a masterpiece of the local Romanesque-Gothic style, rich with sculpture and ornamentation on the exterior. Inside we will see the extensive floor mosaics and sculpture by Renaissance greats such as Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo. We will also visit the stunning Piccolomini Library, frescoed by Pinturrichio to celebrate the life and deeds of Sienese Pope, Pius II. We can then look at the fascinating early paintings unearthed beneath the cathedral.
After lunch we will see San Francesco, home to works by the Lorenzetti Brothers, Il Sodoma and Sassetta. We hope to end the day with a private visit to the Oratorio of San Bernardino which has an important Madonna and Child by Lorenzetti and a beautiful fresco cycle by Beccafumi and Sodoma. Dinner will be at a good local trattoria.
Tuesday 10th November
We will head out of town to seek out some lesser visited places. We will wind our way up through the hills to reach the lovely mediaeval town of Massa Marittima. Here, in the Museum of San Pietro all’ Orto we will find the Maestà by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, as well as The Angel of the Annunciation by Sassetta, a crucifix by Pietro Lorenzetti and some works by Giovanni Pisano.
After lunch we will drive through the Val d’Orcia to the beautiful ruins of the 13th century Cistercian Abbey of San Galgano. Nearby is the Cappella di Monte Siepi, a Romanesque chapel built over the site of the hermitage of St. Galgano which also houses the original ‘Sword in the Stone’. Adjacent is the true reason for our pilgrimage, a 14thcentury chapel frescoed by Ambrogio Lorenzetti with scenes from the life of the revered saint. We will return to Siena with time for a rest before dinner.
Thursday 11th November
We will start with a visit to the Museum of the Cathedral which houses much of the original sculpture and stained glass from the wonderful building, as well as one of the greatest masterpieces of the early Renaissance: Duccio’s Maestà, which once graced the high altar of the newly built cathedral. Here we will also have an opportunity to ascend the facciatone, the abandoned façade of the vast new cathedral project that was never realised due to the arrival of the Black Death. This will afford us spectacular views over the Tuscan landscape. We will then visit the Baptistery to see the Baptismal Font, a magnificent creation in marble, bronze and enamel by the greatest sculptors of the age, including Giovanni di Turino, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia.
After a light lunch you will have the option to attend a workshop on tempera painting and the technique of applying gold leaf at the studio of the highly talented Marco Caratelli. There will also be some free time for shopping or exploring the city further. In the evening, we will meet up for aperitivi before supper at a great trattoria in the centre.
Friday 12th November
In the morning, we will explore the complex of Santa Maria della Scala, a fascinating labyrinth of frescoed halls, tunnels and internal ancient roads. The building began in the 12th century as a Pilgrims’ hospice – one of the oldest in Europe – as it grew, the floors spread down the side of the hill incorporating roads and churches as it went. We shall see the Pellegrinaio, a hall frescoed in the 15th century depicting rare everyday scenes from the life of the hospital as well as the chapel.
En route to the airport we will stop for one last wonderful lunch at Fattoria San Donato in the Tuscan countryside.
Further Details
Tuition – Dr Richard Stemp and Cat Manson will lead the trip from AHA. Both tutors know Siena well and are not only experts in the art of the city but also know where to find the best restaurants, shops and cafes.
Hotels – We will stay at the Grand Hotel Continental, a luxury 5* palazzo in the heart of the city with beautiful frescoes and great bar. It is only a short walk to all the main sights.
Flights – We do not book the flights thus allowing you to travel to suit your budget, use airmiles, travel between different airports or on different dates. The flights have not yet been published for November 2026, as soon as they are we will notify you.
Trains – For those who want to travel by train to Siena, the station is a 10-minute taxi ride to the hotel.
Transport – There will be a private coach for the airport transfer to meet the recommended flights. We will explore Siena by foot.
Lunches and Dinners – Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinner is by no means compulsory, but we book a table for the group each night at different restaurants and divide the bill equally between everyone. Sometimes these may also need to be a set menu but we try our best to avoid this. We will adjust the bill for those not drinking alcohol.
Ability – As Siena is a very hilly place, we will make this trip ‘slow-paced’. Due to the nature of Siena we are often unable to get taxis between locations, so there will still be a lot of walking, as well as uneven cobbles and steep slopes. However, we will go at a slow pace with plenty of breaks, with no one feeling rushed. As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at.
Cost – The fees are £2390 which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches in itinerary, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, entrance fees, wine-tasting, Gold Leaf Workshop, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single occupancy supplement is £220 (double room for single use). Not included are the flights, all suppers, travel insurance. There are a maximum of 16 places and we will divide into groups of 10 or fewer for sessions.
To register – Please complete the online registration form, having read our terms and conditions, and pay a deposit of £600 via bank transfer. Your place is not confirmed until we have received the deposit.
This trip is already full with pencilled in names plus a waiting list.
If wish to be added to the waiting list, please email [email protected]
