Duomo di Siena

About Duomo di Siena

📜 History

Construction of Siena Cathedral began in the mid-12th century when the city-state was at its economic and political zenith. Initially conceived as a Romanesque church, it was gradually transformed into a masterpiece of Italian Gothic under Giovanni Pisano and other masters. During the 14th century, the Sienese undertook an ambitious project to expand the cathedral into Christianity's largest, but the Black Death of 1348 abruptly halted these plans. The ruins of this extension, known as the "Duomo Nuovo," remain visible today. The cathedral has witnessed Siena's tumultuous history: here are preserved the keys of conquered cities and celebrated victories like the battle of Montaperti in 1260. Through centuries of political upheaval, it remained the spiritual and civic heart of the proud Sienese Republic.

🏛️ Architecture

Siena Cathedral represents a masterful synthesis between late Romanesque and early Gothic, with unique Byzantine and Arabic influences. Its façade, designed by Giovanni Pisano, is among Italy's most spectacular, featuring three richly sculpted portals and a central rose window that filters divine light. The interior dazzles with its cosmati pavement, a marble mosaic narrating biblical and allegorical stories across 56 panels created by the greatest Sienese artists between the 14th and 19th centuries. The famous bands of white and dark green marble create a hypnotic visual rhythm guiding the eye toward the altar. The hexagonal dome, a unique architectural innovation, rises 54 meters crowning this temple of incomparable beauty.

⭐ Key Facts

Siena Cathedral transcends its religious function to become the supreme symbol of Sienese civic pride and a jewel of medieval Italian art. As metropolitan cathedral of the Archdiocese of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino, it safeguards unique treasures like the relic of Saint John the Baptist's arm and the Piccolomini Library with Pinturicchio's frescoes. The Palio horse race, held twice yearly in Piazza del Campo, culminates with a thanksgiving mass in the cathedral. For art lovers, it represents a total experience: here Donatello, Bernini, Michelangelo, and Pinturicchio left masterworks. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, it attracts visitors who come to contemplate one of the most beautiful interiors in the Christian world.

A cathedral where art and faith unite in perfect harmony, eternal testimony to the grandeur of the Sienese Republic.

Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team