Editor's Note: While in Europe, travel writers Judi Janofsky and Rich Steck filed daily features as part of a virtual three-week grand tour.

Siena's a wonderful city steeped with medieval alleys and buildings. It's a great base for exploring Central Tuscany. But beware, parking inside the old city is almost impossible. So look for a hotel that either has parking facilities or is close enough to the city walls where parking (for a price) is available.

Here are a few suggestions about where to stay, eat and shop.

Grand Continental Hotel Siena.

Where to Stay: Antica Torre: (Via Fieravecchia 7) Just inside the old city walls but a 10-minute walk to the city's main plaza, Piazza del Campo, this reasonably-priced narrow 16th century tower house was built over a brick-lined 600-year-old potter's workshop, now the tiny breakfast room. The hotel, with just eight rooms (two on each floor, no elevator), is clean and comfortable. But ask for a room in back, away from the noise of the street. (114 euros / $132) Phone or Fax: 39-0577-222-255)

Grand Hotel Continental: (Banchi Di Sopra 85) Just off the Piazza del Campo in a restored building, this 51-room five-star hotel full of 17th century frescoes and 21 century amenities offers views of the spectacular Duomo. (Doubles from 292 euros / $339) Phone: 39-0577-44204)

Where to eat: Papei: Located in the Piazza del Mercato, this delightful outdoor trattoria is a local favorite and serves such tuscan specialties as Ribollita (bean soup), Pappardelle di cinghiale (wide noodles with wild boar sauce and Baccala (dried salt cod cooked in garlic and tomatoes). (A real value at about 20 euros / $23 per person, including house wine.)

Cane e Gatto: (Via Pagliaresi 6) This is one Siena's best restaurants. Senor Paolo Senni and his wife Sonia open their doors from 8:00 - 8:30 each evening, fill their 10 tables, lock the doors and serve their guests. There is no menu, and unless you ask, no prices. The six-course fixed dinner changes every day depending upon what looks good in the market and what Paolo wants to cook. It almost always starts with an antipasto of buffalo mozzarella with tomato, crostini (toasted breads) with creamy chicken liver pate, pecorino cheese, wild boar salami, melon with proscuitto and a quiche-like pie. And that's just the first course. Then there's soup, risotto, pasta, a meat, salad and selection of desserts. If your pocket book can afford it, it's worth every euro. (55 euros / $64 each, excluding wine)

Shopping: Off the Piazza del Campo are narrow streets full of shops. One of the most popular streets is Via di Citta, where there is a good selection of ceramic, leather, wine and gourmet shops, all selling locally made products. (Check out Arcaico, Via di Citta #92, with its colorful cache of ceramic plates, tiles and jugs, and Libreria Senese #62, for books, magazines, maps and a delightful guidebook for children called "Explore and Discover Siena.")

Tomorrow we'll explore the Verdon du Gorges (France's Grand Canyon).

- Judi Janofsky and Rich Steck