The beautiful city of Siena in Tuscany is growing in popularity with those considering living in Italy because it is a great base from which to access the stunning countryside in Tuscany, the vibrant city life in Siena and to generally soak up the magic of Italy.
Quite possibly Siena offers the expatriate seeking ‘real’ Italy, fine weather, the best Italian food and wine and the historic and cultural delights of Italy the very best place to live. In fact, living in Italy in Siena, expatriates are finding that they can have it all!
Siena is an ancient and culturally rich city and it is also a university town meaning that during the academic year it is an exciting and buzzing place to live; at the same time Siena manages to retain a quiet and sophisticated charm and it is this unique combination of feelings that the city inspires that’s one of the very best things about living in Italy in Siena.
In terms of the quality of life achievable in Siena it’s exceptional: for a start there are no major industrial factories and centres in and around the city meaning that the air quality is good, furthermore the city authorities have banned all but public transport in many areas of Siena thus reducing overall pollution and congestion levels significantly. For a thriving and lively hub Siena can therefore feel far less frenetic or dirty compared to other major European cities.
The surrounding countryside encapsulates all that is best about Italy – there are the vineyards of the Chianti region, the traditional Tuscan olive groves and the Italian coast is only an hour away from the city. Siena itself is built across three hills and has a network of ancient intertwining streets and steep steps linking all districts. The atmosphere in the main historic centre of the city is romantic and the many sporting, social and cultural events that Siena boasts bring excitement and fun to all.
Despite being a major city the cost of living in Siena is actually quite low, especially if expatriates shop at the many local markets for their main fresh produce. The quality of food and wine that’s in season is second to none with ripe fruits and healthy vegetables always available in plentiful supply.
The climate in Siena is excellent, it is temperate and mild for the majority of the year and avoids both the harsh winters and extreme summertime temperatures that many areas of Italy suffer. For those who still find Siena too hot and sticky in the summer the Italian coast is just an hour from the city and the heart of Tuscan countryside is on their doorstep.
The plethora of delights that Siena encapsulates and the wealth of opportunity that the city affords its residents means that today living in Italy in Siena is the choice of a growing number of international expatriates seeking a brand new, exciting and fulfilling life abroad.
