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Siena

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Things to see in Siena

Tourist information: 

APT Siena
Piazza del Campo 56
Tel: 05772 80551.
www.terresiena.it

Passes: 

A cumulative ticket, valid for three days, is available, giving entry to the Duomo, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, the Baptistery, Crypt and the Museo Diocesano d'Arte Sacra (Museum of sacred art).

Two Renaissance Trail passes are available. A city centre ticket covers entry to the Museo Civico, Duomo, Santa Maria della Scala, and Pinacoteca Nazionale. A province ticket covers entry to museums in the outlying towns of Pienza, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Asciano and Buonconvento. For more information see www.rinascimento.terresiena.it.

Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery)

Situated behind the cathedral, the Baptistery dates back to the 14th century. The walls are covered with brightly coloured frescoes, while the centrepiece is the baptismal font, which is decorated with bronze carvings by artists such as Ghiberti and Donatello.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza San Giovanni, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 283 048.
Website: www.operaduomo.siena.it
Cripta di San Giovanni

This frescoed ‘crypt' was probably the original pilgrims' entrance to the cathedral and was only rediscovered in 1999 by workmen. It is just behind the cathedral and contains medieval frescoes and even ancient graffiti.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza della Quercia, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 283 048.
Website: www.operaduomo.siena.it
Il Duomo (The Cathedral)

Siena's 12th-century Duomo (Cathedral) has a stunning, zebra-striped interior and a lavish floor covered in mosaics (protected from view and uncovered only August and September - dates vary annually). It also contains the Piccolomini Library, containing vibrant frescoes by Pinturicchio.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza Duomo, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 283 048.
Website: www.operaduomo.siena.it
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo

This museum contains much of the cathedral's extensive art collection. There are sculptures, a Byzantine altar piece and gilded paintings by Duccio di Buoninsegna. Spiral steps lead to the Panorama dal Facciatone, a vertiginous lookout point.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Piazza della Quercia (beside the Duomo), Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 283 048.
Website: www.operaduomo.siena.it
Museo delle Tavolette di Biccherna

Housed in a 14th-century palace, the biccherne are the illustrated wooden covers that protected the city's accounting sheets. They date back to 1257 and contain fascinating scenes of daily life in medieval Siena.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Via Banchi di Sotto 52, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 247 145.
Website: http://assi.archivi.beniculturali.it/archistato_6_01.htm
Palazzo delle Papesse

Built as a palace in the 15th century, this now houses a centre for changing exhibitions of contemporary art. Works by international, as well as Italian artists are shown.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Via di Citta 126, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 22071.
Website: www.papesse.org
Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia (Public Palace and Mangia Tower)

The palazzo has been home to the city authorities since the 13th century. Now its finest rooms are open to the public - most famous is the Sale della Pace, with medieval panoramic frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The tower can be visited separately and offers superb views over the city.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 292 226.
Website: www.comune.siena.it
Piazza del Campo (Siena Main Square)

The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo lies at the heart of Siena and has served as a focus for life in the city for centuries. The Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall), which stands proudly at the top of the piazza, was constructed between 1297 and 1310 as the seat of the Governo dei Nove, or Government of Nine, who ruled Siena from 1287-1355. The interior of the building, which is now the Museo Civico (Civic Museum), contains many paintings by Sienese masters such as Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, as well as the remains of the Gaia Fountain. Next to the Palazzo Pubblico stands the Torre del Mangia (Mangia Tower), a belltower which rises to 102m (334ft); visitors can climb to the top for views of the winding cobbled streets which fan out from the piazza, and timeless vistas of the Tuscan countryside.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy
Pinacoteca Nazionale (National Art Gallery)

This art gallery is filled with stunning paintings of the Sienese school which flourished in the 13th century. Richly gilded, they include the tiny Madonna dei Francescani by Duccio.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Via San Pietro 29, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 281 161.
Website: www.operaduomo.siena.it
Spedale di Santa Maria della Scala (Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala)

Dating back to the 11th century, this was a pilgrims' hostel that became the city's main hospital - treating patients until the 1980s. Now it contains artworks, an archaeological museum and exhibition space. The highlight is a former ward, the Sala del Pellegrinaio, which is covered with 15th-century frescoes of daily life.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: Yes
Address: Piazza del Duomo, Siena, Italy
Telephone: (0577) 224 811.
Website: www.santamariadellascala.com

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