{"id":24032,"date":"2019-11-15T06:41:15","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T06:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.headout.com\/?p=24032"},"modified":"2022-10-20T14:14:25","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T10:14:25","slug":"siena-cathedral-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/siena-cathedral-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Siena Cathedral guide | Read this before you go"},"content":{"rendered":"

A city of museums and churches that has a rich confluence of medieval art, Siena in Tuscany is the ideal holiday destination for history lovers who are longing for a bit of old-world charm. Entering this Tuscan city feels like being in a time warp of a different culture and the beautiful cityscape and classic cuisine add significantly to this allure. The historic center of Siena prides itself on being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and The Siena Cathedral is the most notable of all the tourist attractions.<\/p>\n

A masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture, one can gaze at the Siena Cathedral for hours together and still have more to explore! Siena is also renowned for the Palio – an exciting horse race event that\u2019s held twice a year around the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe\u2019s most fabulous medieval squares! Visit this massive 12th-century marvel for a great start to your holiday in Italy.<\/p>\n

Siena Cathedral- In a Nutshell<\/h2>\n

Handy information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u23f0 Suggested Duration:<\/td>\n3 hours <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2600\ufe0f Best Time to Visit:<\/td>\nMorning: April to June <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83d\udc9c Highlight:<\/td>\nStriped Columns<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Siena Cathedral Ticket: <\/td>\n\u20ac12<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83c\udfab Guided Tour:<\/td>\n\u20ac21<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Must-see <\/h4>\n

Stained Glass Windows Piccolomini Library Black and white striped columns Mosiac Floors Siena Cathedral Bell Tower<\/p>\n

Things to know <\/h4>\n

Number of visitors per year: 1 millionEstablished: 1215Architect: Giovanni Pisano, Camaino di Crescentino, Giovanni di Agostino, Giovanni di CeccoArchitectural style: Romanesque, Classical and Italian Gothic<\/p>\n

Opening Hours And Address<\/h4>\n

Monday – Saturday: 10:30 AM to 5:30 PMOn Sundays and on\/ on the eve of Public Holidays: 10:30 AM to 5 PMAddress : Piazza del Duomo, 8,53100 Siena SI, ItalyGet Directions<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Visit the Siena Cathedral?<\/h2>\n

\"siena<\/p>\n

A stunningly beautiful edifice of Gothic Romanesque architecture, the Siena Cathedral is dedicated to the service of the Assumption of Mary. Replete with a dome, bell tower, and a projecting transept, it bears a likeness to the Latin cross. The exterior facade\u2019s Venetian mosaics and rose windows make its design all the more distinctive.<\/p>\n

The interiors of the cathedral are majorly done up in alternating stripes of black and white marble, symbolic of the city\u2019s legendary founders. While the richly decorated walls and columns lend an exquisite aura, the mosaic flooring is what will take your breath away. A masterpiece in storytelling, the floor has about 56 inlaid marble panels supplied by 40 leading artists of the age that represents sibyls, scenes, and allegories from the Old Testament. The completion of these designs took over six centuries!<\/p>\n

The cathedral is home to some prominent works of art by Italy\u2019s prolific artists and many sculptors have worked tirelessly to contribute to its grand success. Nicola Pisano is credited with carving the pulpit, and his son Giovanni was tasked with developing many other portions. The works of Italian greats such as Donatello, Bernini and Michelangelo are also featured here, among other artists.<\/p>\n

Housed within the sanctuary, the Piccolomini Library boasts of an exotic collection of books and musical manuscripts. The library is famous for its brightly colored frescoes done up in blue, red, and gold colors with grotesque designs. Painted by Pinturicchio, they depict the life of Pope Pius II.<\/p>\n

Which Siena Cathedral tickets should you buy?<\/h2>\n

Depending on whether you’re a history lover, or architecture admirer, your itinerary may vary. Hence it is important to plan ahead, skip the lines and book the best experience.<\/p>\n

You may choose to book one of Headout’s pre-planned tours <\/a>, crafted combining the best experiences including the Siena Cathedral in a package or book your Siena Cathedral tickets <\/a> individually on the Headout app for just \u20ac12.<\/p>\n

Plan Your Visit<\/h2>\n

Getting There<\/h3>\n

By Train:<\/b> With the railway station<\/a> located around 1.5 km from the Duomo, you can easily visit Siena from Florence by train in 90 minutes.<\/p>\n

By Bus:<\/b> Opt for the Rapide SITA buses<\/a> from Florence to take you to the historic center closest to Siena Duomo.<\/p>\n

By Car:<\/b> It only takes 45 minutes by road from Florence to Siena, but unless you\u2019re renting a vehicle to drop you till Siena, it would be a bad idea to drive down in a personal car as finding a parking spot near the old town is a nightmare!<\/p>\n

Siena Cathedral Timings<\/h3>\n