The Hotel Minerva is a clean, bare-bones budget hotel that caters to those looking for a convenient location at reasonable rates. The cavernous lobby is generically modern -- its cream-colored walls, ceilings, and stone floors act as a blank canvas for rotating art exhibitions. A handful of stylized black leather sofas are arranged throughout for seating, but most guests tend not to lounge here. The breakfast room is similarly styled, with dark wooden chairs, art lining the walls, a large mirror to make it feel larger, and a long wooden bar that serves coffee, wine, and other drinks at most hours of the day.

The Hotel Minerva is located at the northern edge of Siena's medieval city wall, just outside the historic pedestrian zone. The immediate area is a bit busy during the day. Siena is a small city, and all the major tourist sights -- including the green-and-white Duomo and the Palazzo Pubblica -- are no more than a 15-minute walk. The train station is less than a five-minute drive or 20-minute walk (approximately a mile) in the other direction. The hotel's location outside the walls makes it an easier place to keep a car for day trips to surrounding towns; the hotel can arrange for reasonably priced parking.

The rooms at the Hotel Minerva are large -- many have three or four beds -- but the decor is bare-basic and nondescript. Floors are stone tile, furnishings are in varying shades of clean-lined wood, and bedspreads are done in yellows and oranges. The best rooms are those with large, furnished private balconies with stunning views over the historic city and surrounding countryside; be sure to request one of those to guarantee a view. All rooms are air-conditioned, and have small flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are similarly basic and clean, with walk-in shower stalls; some Junior Suites have marble tilework. Rooms in the back of the hotel tend to be quieter. For the price, it's a solid budget option, especially if you can snag a room with a view. 

The Minerva serves an extensive, free breakfast daily, and has a small bar off the lobby, serving coffee, wine, and other drinks throughout the day. The hotel has meeting rooms for business guests, and there are two computers in the lobby for guests' use. Wi-Fi is free, but spotty at best. The hotel can arrange parking for a fee.