The Siena Cathedral is a defining landmark in Italy. Gothic and Romanesque structure and a fantastically ornate inside make it one of the vital necessary treasures within the metropolis.
LAST UPDATE: 24 Oct 2023
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The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, usually known as the Cathedral of Siena is a exceptional Gothic constructing.
It’s one of the vital fascinating cathedrals in Italy.
Accomplished in 1348, the inexperienced and white stripes that adorn the facade and the inside are the image of Siena.
The putting inside has a number of necessary artworks. The stained-glass home windows are beautiful, the dome is an engineering feat. The intricately sculptured pulpit is gorgeous.
Right here is all you want to find out about visiting the Siena Cathedral together with the principle highlights and knowledge on shopping for tickets.
THE SIENA CATHEDRAL COMPLEX
The Cathedral of Siena complicated is made up of a number of websites. Listed here are all the principle points of interest to see on the cathedral.
- The Cathedral Inside – The gorgeous inside of the cathedral comprises works by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo.
- The Museo dell’Opera (The Museum) – The museum is housed within the unfinished nave of a brand new cathedral and comprises necessary artifacts from the cathedral.
- New Facade Panorama – A viewpoint over the unfinished facade of the brand new cathedral.
- Piccolomini Library – The beautiful library comprises books and manuscripts belonging to Pope Pius II.
- Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista – The 14th-century baptistery comprises a wealth of frescoes surrounding a grand marble font.
- The Crypt – The Crypt was solely excavated in 1999 and comprises among the most necessary archaeological finds from town.
- Oratory of San Bernardino – The Oratory of San Bernardino homes Sienese work from the thirteenth to the 18th centuries.
SIENA CATHEDRAL OPENING HOURS
Listed here are the present opening occasions of the cathedral. As occasions can change, you possibly can test the official web site for any last-minute modifications to the schedule.
1 APRIL TO 31 OCTOBER
| SITE | MON-SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | 10 am – 7 pm | 1:30 pm – 6 pm |
| Library, Panorama, Baptistery, Crypt | 10 am – 7 pm | 10 am – 7 pm |
| Museum | 9:30 am – 7:30 pm | 9:30 am – 7:30 pm |
| Oratory of San Bernardino | 1:30 pm – 7 pm | 1:30 pm – 7 pm |
1 NOVEMBER TO 31 MARCH
| SITE | MON-SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm | 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm |
| Library, Panorama, Baptistery, Crypt, Museum | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Oratory of San Bernardino | 1:30 pm – 7 pm | 1:30 pm – 7 pm |
26 DECEMBER TO 6 JAN
| SITE | MON-FRI | SAT | SUN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral | 10:30 am – 6 pm | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm | 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm |
| Library, Panorama, Baptistery, Crypt, Museum | 10:30 am – 6 pm | 10:30 am – 6 pm | 10:30 am – 6 pm |
| Oratory of San Bernardino | 1:30 pm – 7 pm | 1:30 pm – 7 pm | 1:30 pm – 7 pm |
HOW TO BUY SIENA CATHEDRAL TICKETS
We strongly advise you to ebook tickets for the Siena Cathedral on-line, a number of days earlier than attending to Siena. There are 3 kinds of tickets you should purchase to see the websites.
SKIP-THE-LINE
CATHEDRAL & LIBRARY
Entry-only ticket for the Cathedral and the Piccolomini Library. No different websites are included with this ticket.
ALL SITES
OPA SI PASS
The Opa Si Move contains entry to all of the museums on the Siena Cathedral complicated, however not the 25-minute Gate of Heaven Tour. (Legitimate for 3 days)
OUR PICK
ALL SITES + TOUR
PORTA DEL CIELO
This ticket contains every part on the cathedral complicated plus the 25-minute guided tour of the cathedral roof the place you possibly can see one of the best of the entire website.
GATE OF HEAVEN (PORTA DEL CIELO)
The Gate of Heaven (Porta del Cielo) ticket contains every part on the cathedral, plus the 25-minute Gate of Heaven tour. It’s a spotlight on the cathedral and one thing we extremely advocate.
To purchase this ticket, you want to choose an entrance time which would be the starting of the Gate of Heaven tour.
The tour begins from contained in the important entrance to the Duomo. Arrive simply earlier than your chosen timeslot and they’ll usher you into a little bit holding pen contained in the cathedral.
On the finish of the tour, you might be left contained in the duomo to discover the inside of the cathedral.
As soon as you might be completed inside, you possibly can proceed on to the museum, crypt, baptistery, and the remaining websites at your leisure.
HIGHLIGHTS AT THE SIENA CATHEDRAL
1 – THE FACADE
The façade of the cathedral dominates the medieval metropolis of Siena. Alternating layers of black and white marble are interrupted with intricate statues and grand bronze doorways.
The higher façades are coated in sensible golden mosaics.
The outside is free to admire from the Piazza del Duomo the place you’ll discover one of the best vantage factors to {photograph} this gothic masterpiece.
2 – SIENA CATHEDRAL INTERIOR
The inside of the cathedral of Siena is a masterpiece.
Even after 3 visits, we’re nonetheless blown away by the dimensions and beautiful ornament of this stunning constructing. It’s an impressive mixture of sunshine and darkish, with black and white pillars rising to star-studded ceilings.
You’ll see works by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo, in addition to an intricately carved pulpit by Nicola Pisano.
Mosaic Inlay Ground – For simply three months of the 12 months (July and mid-Aug to mid-Oct), the marble mosaic inlay flooring of the Duomo are uncovered. The 45-floor panels had been laid from the 14th to sixteenth centuries and recount tales of the Previous Testomony.
3 – GATES OF HEAVEN (PORTA DEL CIELO)
Whereas the cathedral seems to be superb from the bottom, the views are even higher from above. The 25-minute Gate of Heaven tour (Porta del Cielo) takes you as much as the roof for beautiful views over town.
On the best way up, the tour explores the spine of the church, passing by means of rooms that had been inaccessible to the general public for hundreds of years.
The spotlight is the 2 walkways suspended excessive above the nave of the church.
The view by means of the ornate home windows present a magical view of the ornate inside under, capturing one of many unmissable issues to do in Siena.
4 – MUSEO DELL’OPERA
The Cathedral’s Museum (Museo dell-opera del Duomo) is right this moment housed within the unfinished nave of a brand new cathedral which was by no means accomplished.
The museum comprises a variety of artworks together with the cathedral’s authentic statues. It’s all delicately lit by a big round stained glass window made in 1287.
The spotlight is the Maestá of Duccio; an altarpiece of forty-three small scenes which inform the tales of the Lifetime of the Virgin and the Lifetime of Christ.
5 – FACCIATONE VIEWPOINT & UNFINISHED FACADE
In 1339 a movement was accredited to increase Siena Cathedral. Nonetheless, constructing works halted in 1348 because of the financial recession triggered by the Black Demise.
Many of the new cathedral was demolished apart from the facade which nonetheless stands to at the present time.
From the second flooring of the museum, a staircase winds as much as the highest of the unfinished nave. A slim ledge (Panorama dal Facciatone) working alongside the highest of the facade gives great views over town and the remainder of the duomo.
The staircase consists of 131 tight spiral stairs and there’s not quite a lot of area on the prime, but it surely’s nonetheless among the best issues to do in Siena.
6 – PICCOLOMINI LIBRARY
The Piccolomini Library was commissioned round 1492 to honour the reminiscence of Pope Pius II. It comprises a wealthy assortment of books and manuscripts that the pope collected over his lifetime.
Lovely frescos line the partitions of the library as a celebration of the life and works of the pope.
They embody a mixture of landscapes, mystical imagery, and spiritual ceremonies.
The Picolomini Library is an instance of Renaissance symbolism that mixed scholarship with creative expression.
7 – BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA
The Baptistery was constructed within the 14th century and comprises a wealth of frescoes. The central focus is the marble, bronze, and enamel baptismal font.
The ceiling vaults signify the 12 articles of Christian religion and are thought-about among the greatest examples of Sienese artwork anyplace.
The magnificent marble baptismal font was created by the considered one of greatest Sienese sculptures of the time. It was funded by means of private contributions between 1417 and 1431.
Don’t miss the six gilded bronze panels on the font telling the story of John the Baptist.
8 – THE CRYPT
The Crypt was solely excavated in 1999 and comprises among the most necessary archaeological finds from town.
Frescoes from the Twelfth and thirteenth centuries are preserved in vibrant color. There are additionally embellished pillars and geometric stone options.
The extremely embellished structural parts of the cathedral in addition to the foundations are on show.
In some areas, the stonewalling which might have made up the unique Twelfth-century constructing continues to be seen.
9 – ORATORY OF SAN BERNARDINO
The Oratory of San Bernardino homes Sienese work from the thirteenth to the 18th centuries.
Set throughout a number of adjoining rooms, the gathering comprises the Diocesan Museum of Non secular Artwork. It additionally has one of the best collections of Siena artworks within the metropolis.
The straightforward brick facade features a travertine portal courting again to 1574 and the image of St Bernardino – a solar with 12 rays.
Inside, an important items within the assortment are within the higher oratory chapel.
The Oratory of San Bernardino is a 10-minute stroll from the Siena Cathedral.
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