Siena's Cathedral of the Assumption (Santa Maria Assunta in Italian, or more commonly known as the Duomo di Siena or Santa Maria Scalla) is one of the most beautiful Italian churches and main monuments in Siena. Its marble white and black with straight lines contrasts with the richly decorated façade. Siena Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Interestingly, the main tower, 77 metres high, reaches exactly the same altitude as the 88-metre high Torre del Mangia in Campo Square.
Architecture and history
The three-aisled basilica began construction in 1196 in the traditional Romanesque-Gothic style of the Italian Middle Ages, but was not completed until 1348. Typical of Tuscany, the cathedral's white facade is made of the famous Carrara marble.
The Siena Cathedral was inspired by the Pisan Cathedral.
The façade of the west front, where the main entrance to the cathedral is located, is a masterpiece among the most beautiful architectural elements in all of Italy. It was created by the sculptor Giovanni Pisano at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries.
Pisano was inspired by French Gothic, Antique and Romanesque architecture, resulting in an incredible ornate façade with three portals and a beautiful fresco.
Unique interior
The main feature of the interior is the exotic-looking zebra-shaped black and white tiling, which is meant to symbolize the colours of Siena. A cornice runs the length of the dome, beneath which are 172 busts of popes and 36 busts of kings.
The interiors of Siena Cathedral are decorated with several masterpieces by Italian painters and sculptors, among the most famous being the pulpit by Nicola Pisano or the paintings in the most decorated part of the cathedral, which is the Piccolomini Library. These paintings were created by the painter Pinturicchio.
The view from the annexe
Next to the cathedral, to the right of the west facade, is an unfinished extension based on plans from 1339, but only a hint of a new wing and cross vault were able to be built.
It is along this vault that a walkway, open to the public, leads to a magnificent panoramic view of Pisa, one of the most beautiful in the city.
Admission and opening hours
The cathedral is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, and only until 17:00 on weekdays in winter. Remember, however, that it is always closed on Tuesdays.
Tickets to the cathedral cost 9 eur, However, we recommend using the combined ticket for the cathedral, the panoramic view from the unfinished façade, the adjacent Museo dell'Opera and the crypt behind 18 eur.
For official information, visit santamariadellascala.com/en/visit.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Siena.
