Life in Siena is dominated by preparations for the Palio (bareback horserace). The most important arts events are musical and are organised by the Accademia Musicale Chigiana. Their concert season runs from November to March, with classical concerts held in the medieval Palazzo Chigi Saracini, Via di Citta (tel: (0577) 22091; website: www.chigiana.it). The Teatro dei Rinnovati, Piazza del Campo (tel: (0577) 292 265), is currently closed for renovations, so the Teatro dei Rozzi, Piazza Independenza (tel: (0577) 46960; website: www.comune.siena.it), is the main theatre, staging works by Shakespeare and contemporary plays. Musicals and ballets also take place here.

Siena has several cinemas, some of which show foreign films in the original language. Mainstream cinemas are the Odeon, Via Banchi di Sopra 31 (tel: (0577) 42976), Fiamma, Via di Pantaneto 141 (tel: (0577) 284 503) and Metropolitan, Pazza G Matteotti (tel: (0577) 47109), while art house films are sometimes shown at the Cinema Nuovo Pendola, Via San Quirico 13 (tel: (0577) 43012) and Moderno, Via Calzoleria 44 (tel: (0577) 289 201).

For general information on movies shown in Siena, try www.mymovies.it/cinema/siena. Listings can be found on www.sienaonline.com, and events are advertised on posters around Piazza Matteotti