September 17, 2008

Siena: Charming Historic Town and James Bond

Following the latest James Bond adventure around the world takes us from the deserts of northern Chile to the non-desert, but totally charming world of Northern Italy.

Siena Rooftops

In Bond’s latest adventure, Quantum of Solace, the much-anticipated opening sequence was shot in three locations in Northern Italy. Lake Garda was the start of the car chase sequence. The action moved from Lake Garda to Carrara where the chase was filmed through the 2000-year-old marble quarry, the source material for many famous art works, including Michelangelo’s David. The car chase sequence ends in the pretty northern Italian town of Siena. The chase on foot was filmed through the historic Piazza del Campo in the heart of the historic city.

Siena would make the perfect base to explore the Tuscany region, much quieter than over-run Florence but still easily accessible. The town is only 43 miles south of Florence and has excellent train connections. The closest airports are Peretola (40 miles) and Pisa (62 miles). The town is a well-preserved Tuscon hill town which features a magnificent marble cathedral dating from the 1200’s. The town’s centre and square is the Piazza del Campo. When not being used for filming Bond’s car chases, the designated UNESCO World Heritage Piazzo is a great spot for people watching as well as checking out the the Gaia Fountain and the Chapel of the Virgin as well as the dramatic City Hall.

Just a few steps away is the five star Grand Hotel Continental opposite the Rocca Salimbeni, dating from 1816 and housing the world’s most oldest bank: Monte dei Baschi di Siena. The Grand Hotel is located on the Palazzo Gori, built in the 17th century. The hotel as been lovingly restored so not only is the Grand Hotel Continental a 5-star hotel its almost an historic attraction in itself. From the suites to the single rooms, each guest room is unique, many with frescoed vaulted ceilings or coffered wooden beams, antique prints and paintings and splendid period furniture.

The hotel is central and therefore conveniently located to many fine restaurants and night spots but the in-house restaurant Sapordivino is a good spot for lunch, or an aperitif to the accompaniment of live piano music. Sapordivino has a magnificent setting beneath a glass ceiling in the towering courtyard of Palazzo Gori.

From visitor’s accounts its seems that the best rooms are those on the upper floors which feature views across Siena’s roof tops (which James of course also ran across). Actor Daniel Craig, Bond’s alter-ego, is rumored to have stayed in the Altana Penthouse Tower Suite, located at the top of the hotel’s Medieval Tower. The suite spreads over three floors, so don’t book if you can’t manage the stairs. The First flight of marble stairs take you to the first level which includes the bedroom suites and multi-colored marble bathroom. The next floor up is the living room and work area featuring 180 degree panoramic views across Siena and all the way to the rolling hills of Tuscany. There are windows on all four sides making it truly a “room with a view”.