01/24/2025
The Siena Cathedral
I have visited so many churches across Italy – I mean there are only dozens in each city! All are old and noteworthy in some way, but there are a few that really stand out and I have a new favorite – the Siena Duomo (Cathedral).
It doesn’t have the huge dome of Florence’s Cathedral or the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica but is far more approachable in my opinion. I love its Tuscan-Romanesque-Gothic style, the many marble statues, and the remarkable mosaic floor that paints further stories of religious and Tuscan life. It's truly a marvel and having visited Siena many times without making the time to go inside the Duomo, I can now say “don’t make that mistake; make sure to go inside and enjoy the splendor of this cathedral.”
I recently had the opportunity to attend Sunday mass, and it was a special experience to participate in a local event vs. just visit as a tourist. Afterwards, however, I took the opportunity to explore and try to capture its beauty.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is believed to have replaced an earlier one dedicated to the Virgin Mary built around the 9th century on the site of a temple to Minerva and was consecrated in 1179.
The façade was designed by Giovanni Pisano, who also decorated it between 1284 and 1297 with marble sculptures of Philosophers, Prophets and Sybils all intended to glorify the Madonna. The inside is equally renowned and boasts a painted dome, 26 pillars of striped marble, masterpieces by Italy’s greatest artists (Donatello, Michelangelo and Bernini), an ornate pulpit, beautiful chapels and library, and 56 inlays of Florentine mosaic floor – one of the largest ever made.
