HOTEL ATHENA, IN SIENA, ITALY

Hotel Athena
Address: Via Paolo Mascagni, 55, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Phone: +39 0577 287247
Web: http://www.hotelathena.com/en/

I couldn’t wait to get back to Siena. The city left such a strong impression on me when I first visited as a teenager with my parents and brother, that I’d been saying ever since that I needed to return. Finally, I did.

It was a lot busier than I remembered. Perhaps it’s because we had just come from Lucca, which has less than half of Siena’s population, but I wasn’t anticipating the bustling crowds or the seemingly nonstop traffic we’d have to dodge with the double stroller. That being said, it was still nice to be back and have a whole new experience there with my husband and kids-and father, again!

We stayed at Hotel Athena, a four-star accommodation that sits just a short distance in from the entrance through the city walls. Unlike the majority of hotels in Siena, ours had valet parking with a lot right next door. While many people choose to leave their cars outside the walls and walk in, I was not about to do that with two kids and four suitcases… Given the convenience and the fact that there was a rooftop terrace with one heck of a view, Hotel Athena would be the perfect place for us to spend our night.

Of all the hotels we stayed at over the course of this particular Italy trip, our room here was the most simple and to the point. It actually felt like a hotel, rather than a palace, which many of the others once were, but it was clean and comfortable and got the job done. The staff was pleasant and eager to help us in any way they could and we were even offered a room upgrade, which ensured we had our own special view overlooking the Tuscan countryside.

Once we dropped off our bags, before heading out for dinner, it was imperative for me that we check out the San Marco Terrace that I had seen so many gorgeous photos of— and that I have a Spritz. Fortunately, for us, most people were  at dinner by this time, and we had the whole place to ourselves. The spectacular view at sunset was everything we could have hoped for and my Campari Spritz hit the spot. The kids were just as happy to enjoy their mock-tails and literally shout from the rooftop as they took in the view themselves. We stayed until we were hungry enough to venture off to find our next meal and knew wherever we wound up eating, it would inevitably be a hit. 

I always like to ask Locals where they would recommend dining so we stopped at the reception desk on our way out into town. Without hesitation, we were sent to Osteria Nonna Gina, a small and cozy family-owned restaurant just up the street from our hotel, and I am so glad we were. The menu was limited but offered enough variety for the five of us and even though the restaurant was packed, our order was placed and arrived at our table within twenty minutes.

Osteria Nonna Gina really felt “homey” as our waiter was very personable and we shared friendly conversations that ended with hugs, with those sitting at tables nearby. As a special, the chef had made gnocchi and was serving it in a rich sage cream sauce. Ryan, my dad and I all opted to try this and the kids each had more Ribollita (a traditional hearty vegetable soup), as it had become one of their favorite things to eat in Tuscany. We shared Tiramisu for dinner and then, which was certainly the highlight of the evening for the children, our waiter brought over an entire tower of Chup Lollipops. His intention was for each of the kids to take one, so our daughter was disappointed when she learned that we weren’t leaving with the whole stash…

We enjoyed a post-dinner walk around the city and were surprised to see just how many people were still out around midnight on a Tuesday. Piazza del Campo, home to the famous Palio horse race, was all excitement as patrons lingered at their dinner tables eating, drinking and enjoying the atmosphere… It was a nice reminder that we were, in fact, in Italy! 

After a stroll around the piazza (and a gelato each) we were ready to turn in for the night. Back at Hotel Athena, the halls were quiet and our room had been turned down, with little chocolates left on  pillows for the kids. We were happy with our choice to be spending the night and to see that our housekeeper left a hand-written note asking if there was anything that we would need in the morning (coffee, a wake-up call, our laundry done). Most importantly, we were granted a peaceful night’s sleep with room-darkening curtains and zero interruptions. In the morning, as usual-especially when in Italy- I couldn’t get to my cappuccino fast enough.

We decided to try the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Il Mangia, while we sent a few loads of laundry downstairs to be done. The coffee was both strong and delicious and my croissants and fruit were as fresh as could be. The breakfast menu had both European and more traditional American offerings (think pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs). While the kids liked their multi-cultural breakfasts, I stuck to my “when in Rome” staples. Before leaving, I insisted we all go up to the terrace for one last glimpse of Tuscany through the eyes of Hotel Athena- and I snuck in another cappuccino while we were there. By the time we got back to our room to pick up our luggage, our laundry had been washed, folded and returned to us and proved my decision to pack lightly to be a good one.

I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Siena that they stay at Hotel Athena. We had a great experience, taking away with us only positive memories, and everything about the location made for a seamless stay in a busy yet beautiful town.

A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.