Province of Siena

The Province of Siena (Italian: Provincia di Siena) is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Siena.

It has an area of 3,821 km² (1475 mile²), and a total population of about 0.3 million. There are 36 comuni (singular: comune) in the province. At June 30, 2005, the main comuni by population are:

Comune Population
Siena 54,337
Poggibonsi 28,634
Colle di Val d'Elsa 20,276
Montepulciano 14,142
Sinalunga 12,335
Sovicille 8,882
Chiusi 8,746
Monteriggioni 8,189
Castelnuovo Berardenga 8,081
Monteroni d'Arbia 7,548
Castel del Piano 7,473
Torrita di Siena 7,305
Chianciano Terme 7,221

The province is divided into seven historical areas:

  1. Alta Val d'Elsa
  2. Chianti senese
  3. The urban area of (Monteriggioni and Siena)
  4. Val di Merse
  5. Crete senesi Val d'Arbia
  6. Val di Chiana senese
  7. Val d'Orcia and Amiata

The area is a hilly one: in the north is Monte del Chianti; Monte Amiata is the highest point at 1738 m; and in the south is Monte Cetona. To the west are the Colline Metallifere (“Metallic Hills”), whilst the Val di Chiana lies to east.

Historically, the province corresponds to the former republic of Siena.

The chief occupations are agricultural (wheat, grapes and fruit) and silk culture. The wine known as Chianti is produced here as well as in other parts of Tuscany: the Chianti Colli Senesi, however, is limited to this province.

Apart from the city of Siena the principal towns are Poggibonsi, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Montepulciano, Chiusi, and San Gimignano.

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