24 Jul 2023
Benny was a great tour guide in explaining Siena and its history; Catherine, its patron saint; its contrade and Palio di Siena. Even though the Siena Cathedral was not a part of our tour, I had contacted the tour company in advance about getting skip-the-line tickets to the cathedral. Benny accommodated us that day by securing the skip-the-line tickets and taking us on a brief tour inside. It would not have been the same if we had tried to do it on our own - we wouldn't have gained the same knowledge, so we really appreciated her doing so (even though it meant forgoing some of the other items on the tour). The cathedral was worth it - amazingly beautiful inside. In addition, the exclusive window view of Piazza del Campo was also worth it. To actually gain entrance to one of Siena's buildings, go to the top and see the piazza from that viewpoint with a cool, refreshing drink and small snack was a fantastic way to end the tour. Plus, our family of six were the only ones on the tour, which made for a memorable and feeling like VIPs for the day.