Experience the best of Siena Cathedral

Before entering Siena Duomo, pause at its marble facade, a Gothic symphony of saints and spires etched against the sky. Inside, black-and-white columns rise beneath golden mosaics, while marble floors unfold centuries of sacred storytelling.

Step into a world of color and story, where Pinturicchio’s frescoes wrap the walls and ceiling in luminous Renaissance scenes. Golden light dances across illuminated manuscripts, revealing Siena’s artistic brilliance and scholarly legacy.

From Donatello’s elegant works to intricate marble carvings and original stained-glass panels, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo brings you closer to masterpieces that shaped the cathedral’s identity, each telling a story of devotion, skill, and Siena’s rich artistic heritage.

Beneath the cathedral lies the Crypt, a remarkable discovery sealed for centuries and only unveiled in recent decades. Frescoes, preserved in luminous color, offer a glimpse into Siena’s medieval imagination and its deep ties to faith and artistry.

The Baptistery, with its vaulted ceilings and marble baptismal font by Jacopo della Quercia, is another highlight. Here, artistry and ritual converge, with scenes carved in relief that inspired generations of Renaissance masters.

The Facciatone, an unfinished fragment of Siena’s ambitious cathedral expansion, now serves as a panoramic viewpoint. From here, Siena’s rooftops, rolling Tuscan hills, and the Piazza del Campo unfold in breathtaking perspective.

Siena Cathedral flaunts Italian Gothic architecture with Romanesque and Classical influence. The front façade has three portals, while the interior includes five naves and a dome. The cathedral also features ribbed vaults, while the inside walls are decorated with architectural details such as pilasters, rustications, and archivolts.

The incredible white, green, and red marble facade of Siena Cathedral was designed by Giovanni Pisano. Each of the cardinal points has its own distinctive work of art and architecture. Of the four facades, the west facade stands as a true example of Sienese workmanship, as it combines French Gothic elements with Tuscan Romanesque and Classical architecture.

The hexagonal pulpit, crafted by Nicola Pisano in the 13th century, is a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture. It is supported by lions and depicts scenes from the life of Christ, a testament to Pisano’s special skill in creating dynamic and expressive figures.

The cathedral's dome, with its striking black and white striped columns, adds to the overall grandeur of the interior. The dome is embellished with frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Domenico Beccafumi, depicting the Assumption of the Virgin, which draws the eye upward and enhances the sense of space.

It is a highly decorated marble floor, unique of its kind in Italy with 56 panels of various sizes. Crafted from Carrara and Verona marble, the intricate mosaic inlay and graffito designs cover the entire floor. Created by about forty artists and craftsmen from the 14th to the 16th centuries, it stands as a masterpiece of Italian art.

The wooden choir stalls, intricately carved by Bartolomeo Neroni, and the high altar, with its exquisite marble work, are central features of the cathedral. The choir stalls are adorned with detailed scenes and figures, representing a high point in Renaissance woodcarving.

Siena Cathedral has 77 large stained glass windows created by many different artists, attracting tourists to see them up close.  One of the famous artworks at the Siena Cathedral is the rose window that Duccio di Buoninsegna designed.

The roof of Siena Cathedral is open to visitors, and is made up of different materials such as terracotta, lead, marble, and copper. Named at the "gate of heaven,” you get to walk above the nave to enjoy a view of the Cathedral and the outside from a unique vantage point.

The paintings at Siena Cathedral showcase Sienese art and Italian culture from the 13th to 19th centuries. The most famous is the "Madonna del Voto" (Madonna of the Vow), a fresco cycle by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, depicting the Virgin Mary vowing to protect Siena from future disasters.

The Duomo Nuovo was an ambitious expansion project initiated in 1339 to create one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. However, construction was halted due to the devastating plague of 1348, leaving only the unfinished façade visible today. This façade stands as a testament to Siena's architectural aspirations and serves as a popular viewpoint for visitors.

The Facciatone is the grand façade of the Duomo Nuovo. the new cathedral. It is notable for its polychrome marble decorations and is divided into two sections: the lower part, created by Giovanni Pisano, showcases a Gothic-Romanesque style, while the upper section exhibits late Gothic elements. It stands as a prominent feature on the eastern side of the existing cathedral.