Siena Cathedral Admission & Guided Tour with Piazza del Campo Access

The Siena Cathedral, located in Siena, Tuscany, is a magnificent Duomo that holds a vast collection of Early Renaissance art. With the help of the expert guide accompanying you on this tour, you can learn more about the art and architecture of the Cathedral, as well as the city of Siena, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Siena Cathedral complex, divided into the "Duomo Vecchio" (Old Cathedral), and the "Duomo Nuovo" (New Cathedral), contains an array of important sites, such as the Crypt, the Baptistery, the Piccolomini Library, the Museo dell’Opera, and the Diocesan Museum Of Religious Art. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, a stately 14th-century building that houses a few prime examples of Early Renaissance art, along with some of the finest 15th-century Sienese art to be found anywhere in the world. At the Baptistery you can admire the stunning frescoes painted by Lorenzo di Petro, also known as “Vecchietta”, such as the Twelve Articles of the Christian Faith series, painted in the vaults between 1447 and 1450. Another centrepiece you will see is the Baptismal Font, a towering creation in marble, bronze and enamel, worked upon by some of the greatest sculptors of the age, including Giovanni di Turino, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia.

Your guide will then lead you to the Piccolomini Library, built by Pope Pius III to commemorate his predecessor and maternal uncle, cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini aka Pope Pius II, one of Siena’s favourite sons. This vast library was decorated by Pintutichhio, whose frescoes of the life and times of Pope Pius II adorn the walls. Another spectacular sight is the vault of the library, decorated in the bright and vibrant “grotesque” style, which will have you craning your necks for a glimpse. If you keep your eyes peeled, you can catch an early cameo by the young Raphael, who worked with Pinturichhio on the frescoes as his apprentice.

Your guide will also take you into the Muse dell’Opera, which houses some of the greatest masterpieces of Italian and Renaissance art, rare manuscripts and codices, precious silks and jeweller’s art, and much more. Located in the north aisle of the Nuovo Duomo, the Museo dell’Opera is one of the oldest private museums in Italy. Here you can catch a glimpse of exquisite sculptures by Giovanni Pisano, reliefs by Jacopo della Quercia, and Donatello’s celebrated Madonna and Child with Four Cherubs. The highlight of the collection is the grand altarpiece designed by Duccio di Bunoninsegna, the Maestà. The panel on the front of this piece depicts the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Angels and Saints, while the back tells the story of the *Passion of Christ.

After your visit to the museum, you will continue your tour through the streets of Siena. This historical city holds countless secrets within its brick walls, and your guide can help you unravel some of them with his/her running commentary. You will end your tour at the world-renown Piazza del Campo, where the Palio races between the various contradao or districts of Siena take place every year. Here you come closest to the beating heart of Siena, as this Piazza has stayed unchanged for centuries. This guided tour is perfect for art and history lovers, serving as a great introduction to Siena and the Early Renaissance.