Siena Cathedral is one of Italy’s most important Romanesque-Gothic churches. It’s famous for its striking façade, the frescoes in the Piccolomini Library and the inlaid marble floor that took five centuries to complete. A huge masterpiece of a church that rises above the city’s narrow winding streets, it is one of the Siena’s most important landmarks.
A visit to Siena’s Cathedral is an event in itself. A temple to religious fervour and Sienese pride, it has an awe inspiring interior, splendid works of art and a remarkable view from its roof.
A short walk from Piazza del Campo leads you to the other focal point of Siena, the Cathedral Square. The imposing Duomo, lavishly decorated, dominates the square and fills it with light. The black, white and pink marble, and the facade’s rich golden decor add to the splendour of a building.
It took more than two hundred years to build (from the mid-12th century). It was supposed to be enlarged in 1339, but the work stopped with the arrival of the plague that killed off much of the population. You can still see the unfinished nave (called “facciatone”) and today visitors can climb it to get an amazing view point of the church and its surroundings. The side aisle of the unfinished nave was roofed over and today hosts the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
⇒ Discover all Siena’s best attractions and the top things to do in Siena during your visit!
The splendid facade of Siena Cathedral
The cathedral was the first in Italy to display the rich treasury of forms and figures following the pattern of French Gothic cathedrals. On the facade there are 35 statues of prophets and patriarchs grouped around the Virgin. These are copies, the originals are in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
Giovanni Pisano started the decorations of the lower part of the facade, but in 1296 he left the city and his work was completed 100 years later by Giovanni di Cecco. The mosaics were added in the 19th century.
=> Discover the 7 Top Museums to visit in Siena
What to Look out for in Siena Cathedral
Nothing can prepare you for what you’ll find inside. The striking black and white striped columns. The gold stars that float above you in blue vaults. The profusion of statues, from Donatello to Michelangelo to Bernini. It turns ancient art into a visceral experience.
Highlights include the marble pulpit, a sculptural masterpiece by Nicola Pisano, and the Piccolomini Library whose walls are decorated with the magnificent fresco cycle by Pinturicchio.
Siena Cathedral’s inlaid marble floor was a grand project that was realised between the 14th and 18th centuries. In the words of Giorgio Vasari, it is “the most beautiful, largest and most magnificent that ever was made”.
Today however much of this treasure remains hidden from view. The mosaic panels in the nave and aisles are usually visible. However the other, more precious mosaics, spend most of the year covered by protective flooring, as they are located right underneath where people sit for mass. The coverings are only removed during special occasions, usually after the Palio – from late August to October.
=> Get the most from your visit to Siena with this 2-hour guided Tour of the Cathedral & Siena’s Old Town.
⇒ If you only have one day to spend in Siena, we recommend you an early start, and a visit to the Cathedral in the morning. For more tips, check out our Siena in a day itinerary.
=> Find out about the Top 8 Churches in Tuscany outside of Florence.
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Tips
It’s important to check the opening times when planning your visit. Some of the highlights of the cathedral, like the marble floor, are only visible at certain times of the year. It’s worth noting that the cathedral part of the Siena Duomo Complex. This includes other important sites like the Baptistery and the Museum, so you may want to consider getting a combined ticket if you would like to see all of them.
