Siena

<< Tuscany

Siena is a city in Tuscany known for its rich artistic, architectural, and cultural heritage. First settled by the Etruscans, Siena was a small Roman town and it rose to prominence in the Late Middle Ages as a major commercial and financial center. The Republic of Siena ruled over Southern Tuscany, and the city lived its golden age in the 13th and 14th century. After being conquered by Florence in 1555, the city shared the history of the rest of the region, becoming part of Italy during the unification of the country. Siena is now a major tourist destination, especially known for its medieval old town and the Palio, a historic horse race held in the main square of the city.

✪ Palazzo Pubblico

Palazzo Pubblico is a large medieval building facing Piazza del Campo in Siena. Built starting in 1297, it was the seat of the Republic of Siena and now it serves as town hall. Adjacent to the building is the Torre del Mangia, a decorated tower built in the 14th century, and one of the tallest medieval towers in Italy. The palace houses the Civic Museum (Museo Civico), a collection of artworks hosted in the many decorated halls of the building. Several halls of Palazzo Pubblico feature large series of frescoes painted in the Late Middle Ages. The most notable is The Allegory of Good and Bad Government (Allegoria ed Effetti del Buono e del Cattivo Governo), which was painted between 1338 and 1339 by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and was designed to inspire the local rulers.

✪ Piazza del Campo

Piazza del Campo is the main square of Siena, regarded as one of the greatest medieval squares in Europe. The square is known for its peculiar shape and for being the site of the Palio, a horse race that is held along the edges of Piazza del Campo twice a year. The square is divided into nine sections radiating from Palazzo Pubblico, a reference to the nine members of the council that governed the city between the 13th and 14th century. Piazza del Campo also features the Fonte Gaia, a medieval fountain adorned with elaborate sculptures. The square is surrounded by historic buildings mostly erected in the Late Middle Ages.

✪ Siena Cathedral

The Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena) is the main religious site in Siena, and one of the greatest examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture in Italy. Mostly built during the 13th and 14th century, the church features an extremely elaborate facade adorned with rich decorations, statues, and mosaics. The tall bell tower of the cathedral, completed in 1313, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. The interior of the church is richly adorned with more decorations and artworks. Notable works in the church include the 13th-century pulpit, a large series of mosaics, and several sculptures, frescoes, and paintings. The large Piccolomini Altarpiece (Altare Piccolomini) is hosted here, and it features statues by Michelangelo, while a sculpture by Donatello is housed in one of the many decorated chapels. The Libreria Piccolomini (Piccolomini Library) is part of the cathedral, and it is adorned with a huge series of frescoes painted in the early 16th century by Pinturicchio. Meanwhile, the Baptistery of San Giovanni (Battistero di San Giovanni) is adjacent to the church, and it houses rich frescoes and a series of bronze panels, some of which have been sculpted by Donatello and Ghiberti. The church also hosts a crypt with medieval frescoes.

✪ Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Siena

The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Siena is an art museum hosted in a building adjacent to the Siena Cathedral, orginally erected as an expansion of the church that was never completed. The museum houses several artworks linked with the Siena Cathedral, including the famous Maestà altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna, one of the greatest works of early 14th-century Italian art. The collection also includes numerous other paintings and sculptures from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Adjacent to the museum is the Facciatone, a section of the unfinished expansion of the cathedral, which now hosts a panoramic terrace.

✪ Santa Maria della Scala Museum Complex

The Santa Maria della Scala Museum Complex (Complesso Museale di Santa Maria della Scala) is hosted in a medieval building located in front of the Siena Cathedral, once serving as an hospital. The complex houses many artworks and it includes the decorated Church of Santissima Annunziata and various frescoed halls, most notably the Pellegrinaio, which features a large series of frescoes painted in the 15th century. The complex includes the National Archaeological Museum of Siena (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Siena), which houses several archaeological finds unearthed in Siena and the surrounding region.

✪ Pinacoteca Nazionale of Siena

The Pinacoteca Nazionale is a rich art museum hosted in a historic building in Siena. Its rich collection includes several beautiful artworks, mostly dating from the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, by artists of the Sienese School such as Duccio di Buoninsegna.

Palazzo Piccolomini

Palazzo Piccolomini is a Renaissance building in the center of Siena. The palace hosts the local state archives, but it is best known for housing a museum of medieval wooden panels, called Tavolette di Biccherna, which were the painted covers of the accounts books of a local financial institution.

Palazzo Chigi-Saracini

Palazzo Chigi-Saracini is a historic palace in Siena, erected in the 12th century and expanded during the Renaissance. The building houses a collection of artworks dating between the Late Middle Ages and the 20th century, and various decorated halls. Palazzo Chigi-Saracini now hosts the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, a prestigious music institute.

Natural History Museum of the Fisiocritici Academy

The Natural History Museum of the Academy of Fisiocritici (Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Accademia dei Fisiocritici) is the museum of natural history of the science academy of Siena, known as the Fisiocritici Academy. The museum includes a rich collection of minerals, fossils, zoological and botanical specimens, and a series of historic anatomical models. The museum also features many scientific instruments and an archaeological collection.

Church of Sant’Agostino

The Church of Sant’Agostino is a church in Siena erected starting in the 13th century and later heavily reworked. The church houses a rich series of artworks, including the 16th-century Chigi Altarpiece (Pala Chigi) by Perugino, a fresco by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and many more interesting pieces.

Palazzo Salimbeni

Palazzo Salimbeni is a Gothic palace in the center of Siena, built in the 14th century and renovated in the 20th century. The palace now serves as the headquarters of the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the oldest bank in the world, and still one of the main financial institutions in Italy. Palazzo Salimbeni also houses the art collection of the bank, which includes paintings by many artists of the Sienese School.

Basilica of San Domenico

The Basilica of San Domenico is a large church in Siena, erected starting in the 13th century. The church features numerous artworks and decorated chapels, but it is best known for hosting the reliquaries containing the head of Saint Catherine of Siena. The Cappella delle Volte inside the church is the place where the saint is said to have had many mystical episodes.

Sanctuary of Santa Caterina

The Sanctuary of Santa Caterina (Santuario di Santa Caterina) is a religious complex located near the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena. The sanctuary includes the birthplace of Saint Catherine of Siena, a 17th-century church, and some decorated oratories housing various artworks.

Church of Santa Maria di Provenzano

The Church of Santa Maria di Provenzano is a large church in the center of Siena, inaugurated in 1611. The building was erected to host a 14th-century terracotta icon of the Madonna, which was supposedly linked with various miracles. The church features Mannerist decorations and it houses many artworks from the 17th and 18th century.

Basilica of San Francesco

The Basilica of San Francesco is a historic church in Siena, erected during the Late Middle Ages and later restored. The imposing building has a simple Gothic-style facade, and its interiors house some decorations and a few ancient frescoes and artworks.

Oratory of the Compagnia di San Bernardino

The Oratory of the Compagnia di San Bernardino (Oratorio della Compagnia di San Bernardino) is a small religious building adjacent to the Basilica of San Francesco in Siena. The oratory is adorned with many frescoes and decorations from the 15th and 16th century. The building also houses the Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano), which hosts various interesting pieces of religious art dating between the 13th and 17th century.

Basilica of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi

The Basilica of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi is a church in Siena founded in the 13th century and completely rebuilt during the Renaissance. The church features a blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance style, and it houses a rich collection of interesting artworks and several ancient frescoes.

Medici Fortress of Siena

The Medici Fortress of Siena (Fortezza Medicea di Siena) is a fort erected in the 16th century by the Medici family in Siena, after Florence conquered the city. The structure remained an important fortress until the late 18th century, and was later turned into a public space. Now it is used to host events, concerts, and art exhibitions.

Basilica dell’Osservanza

The Basilica dell’Osservanza is a a historic church located at the outskirts of Siena. Built in Renaissance style during the 15th century and heavily restored in the 20th century, the basilica features various artworks by artists of the Sienese School.