Siena

Siena ( see-EN-ə, Italian: [ˈsjɛːna, ˈsjeːna] ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; Latin: Saena Iulia) is a city in the region of Tuscany in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. With a population of 53,180, it is the 12th-largest city in the region. The city is historically linked to commercial and banking activities, having been a major banking centre until the 13th and 14th centuries. Siena is also home to the oldest bank in the world, the Monte dei Paschi, which has been operating continuously since 1472 (1472). Several significant Mediaeval and Renaissance painters were born and worked in Siena, including Duccio di Buoninsegna, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Simone Martini and Sassetta, and they influenced the course of Italian and European art. The 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 an important city in medieval Europe, and its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which contains several buildings from the 13th and 14th centuries. The city is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year in Piazza del Campo. In October 2025, Siena won the European Green Leaf Award for 2027.