Culture of Siena. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The most recognizable symbol of Siena is its beautiful cathedral. Construction of the church has begun in 1179 and lasted for several hundred years. The Cathedral impresses with its elegant architectural style and luxurious interiors. On the roof of the cathedral you can see the statues of saints; locals believe that they protect the city from all hardships. The interior of the cathedral features an abundance of ancient elements, including mosaics, ornaments and sacred relics.

One of the oldest buildings in Europe - the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala – is situated in the city. It was founded in the 9th century, and more than a hundred years it served as a refuge for monks. In the 10th century the building was officially reformed into a hospital for orphans, lonely old people and pilgrims. Today, the historic building is home to the Archaeological Museum. The museum's collection includes thousands of priceless artifacts and is regularly updated since many scientists are working in the city.

In the center of city there is the Campo Square, the starting point for many sightseeing tours. The design of the square is very unusual; some interesting explanations about it would wait for travelers in the tour. One of the most unusual architectural monuments of the town is the Torre del Mangia, whose age is more than five hundred years. The central part of the tower is made of brick and jagged pace is constructed of a brittle limestone. Contemporary architects consider the project of the tower just fantastic and don’t cease to surprise with the endurance of this fragile structure. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Among other outstanding monuments of architecture Palace Publico points out; now it houses the city administration. The palace was built in the second half of the 13th century. During its long history, it has repeatedly changed its appearance. The modern building features an amazing combination of different architectural styles; on the facade of the building you can see a lot of interesting and emblematic adornments.

The part of the palace hosts the Museo Civico, which would appeal to art lovers. Among its exhibits there are beautiful paintings, sculptures and frescoes made ​​by local craftsmen. The age of many of the exhibits is over four hundred years, so the tour is sure to be interesting and informative.

The baptistery Battistero di San Giovanni is an excellent religious monument, which was built in the year 1382 in the Gothic style of Siena type. The architect of this project is Camaino di Crescentino. Among the furnishings travelers find most attractive, the magnificent frescoes by Lorenzo di Pietro (better known as Vecchietta) and the sculptures worked on by Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Giovanni di Turino, as well as the altar by Alessandro Franchi. No less interesting is the appearance of the building, which immediately attracts the eyes of passersby. Another remarkable religious sight is the Gothic chapel, Cappella di Piazza. The construction of this church was started in 1352 as a token of gratitude to the Virgin Mary for deliverance from the plague of 1348, and completed in 1376. Bartolomeo di Tomme and Mariano Romanelli worked on the sculptures.

Do not attempt to ignore another interesting monument of Siena – Facciatone, which is an unfinished wall of the Cathedral church of Milan. The fact is that in the 14th century, it was decided to expand the main church, but because of the already mentioned epidemic, the plague of 1348, the work was interrupted. Today, the wall is an excellent viewing platform, from which magnificent views of the medieval city can be beheld. The Basilica di San Francesco is also worthy of being mentioned for those who like to see religious sights. It was built in the 13th century and is an excellent example of the Romanesque style, mixed with the Gothic. Later in 1655, there was a restructuring of the church in the baroque style (since the shrine was damaged by fire), but at the end of the 19th century, it was restored to its original form.

Among the religious monuments of the Italian city, the Santuario Casa di Santa Caterina, built in the neo-Renaissance style, also deserves to be highlighted. It was built by decree of the Archbishop of Siena, Mario Toccabelli, in 1623 at the place where Saint Catherine who was canonized in 1461 lived. He, together with Saint Francis of Assisi, is considered the patroness of Italy. In 1999, she (Saint Catherine) was proclaimed altogether as the patroness of all of Europe, and today the sanctuary is an important place of interest for Catholics. In Siena, people still remember the events of 1462, when Pope Pius II came to Siena on important matters and stopped at the Le Logge del Papa house, specially built by his decree. The architect of the building was Antonio Federighi.

The castle Fortezza Medicea is named after the founder of the fort, which is Cosimo I de’ Medici. The construction was preceded by the defeat of Siena, with the support of France in the Battle of Marciano (1554). The winner was Florence in alliance with Spain. Until 1552, the city was under the rule of Spain, but in this year (1552) the locals revolted, expelling the Spaniards from the territory and destroying the old citadel, which was on the site of which the Fortezza Medicea castle is located today. However, two years later the above-mentioned battle followed, resulting in the surrender of the locals – the Spaniards subsequently rebuilt the fortress. It is worth noting that the Fortezza di Santa Barbara is sometimes called the defensive fortification, and the military engineer Giovanni Battista Belluci was the architect behind the construction. The fort served its original purpose until the end of the 18th century.

Palazzo Chigi Saracini brightly stands out among the other palaces of Siena with its gothic appearance. It was built in the 12th century by the family of Marescotti, one of the most influential families at that time in Siena. In 1506, the palace was acquired by another family, Piccolomini-Mandoli, whose members decided to make several modifications. They refurbished the loggia and patio, which took on the look of a Renaissance style. Subsequent restorations always preserved the original Gothic facade. The palazzo is named after the Saracini family who was the last owners of the palace and restored it with the help of architect Arturo Viligiardi. An obligatory point for everyone when visiting the Palazzo is its courtyard – all because of its incredible picturesqueness.

Another excellent example of Gothic Italian palace – Palazzo Tolomei – is also one of the oldest, being built in 1275 by the Tolomei family, famous as one of the first bankers. The building is notable for the fact that before the construction of Palazzo Pubblico it was here that the headquarters of the Siena commune and the bank were located (besides the fact, that the palace was the seat of the banking dynasty). It is not worth passing unnoticed another interesting palace – Palazzo Sansedoni. However, this will not work the reason being that it is located next to the Palazzo Pubblico. It is believed that in the 15th century when the building was restored, its tower was truncated so that it could not be higher than the Torre del Mangia structure. The restoration of 2014 seemed to bring back time, giving the palazzo a pristine gothic look.

The Porta Romana arch built in 1328, is also a prominent landmark in Siena. As the name suggests, it indicates the location of Rome. It differs from other medieval walls of the city by the fact that it consists of two portals – furthermore, the internal towers are higher than the external ones. Such design is justified from a military point of view, somewhat interfering with the attacker. The estate of the 16th century, Villa Brandi, is a beautiful monument of architecture which was acquired in 1767 by the Brandi family. Thanks to this, the villa today bears this name. The dynasty made a small restoration and built a chapel next to the building. The last owner was Cesare Brandi, who enriched the art collection with stunning paintings by painters of the 20th century (Umberto Mastroianni, Renato Guttuso, and Giorgio Morandi).

Fountains of Siena deserve a separate write-up, being magnificent works of art. You should definitely see the magnificent gothic fountain Fontebranda, the first mention of which dates back to 1081. The building acquired its current appearance in 1246 when its restoration took place. It was admired by Dante Alighieri, so much so that he even mentioned the structure in his most famous work, “The Divine Comedy”. Also of interest is the Fonte Gaia, which adorns the main square of the city, Piazza del Campo, located directly in front of the already mentioned Palazzo Pubblico. The building was constructed in 1340 by the project of the architects Agostino di Giovanni and Agnolo di Ventura, who also worked on the project of the Duomo di Siena cathedral. At some point, the fountain was decorated with beautiful sculptures by Jacopo della Quercia, but today they can be found in the Palazzo Pubblico.

The Piazza del Mercato is a perfect location for a walk. It can be found right behind the Piazza del Campo. It is notable for being one of the oldest streets, and definitely older than its famous companion. The square was once the liveliest area of ​​the city. Another interesting street for a promenade is Via di Città, where you could once find the shops of shoemakers and tanners. This is another ancient square of the city, where at every step you can see graceful monuments of the Middle Ages. For those who want to feel the pastoral atmosphere of Italy and have an idea of how the ancestors of the local people lived for centuries, you should take advantage of the Treno Natura train that runs through the villages, and also visit the Fattoria farm.

The Museo della Tortura cultural sight is a unique museum, many of whose objects are not intended for the eyes or ears of overly impressionable people. Among the exhibits you will come across here are, instruments of torture that were used during the Middle Ages, and in particular, the Inquisition. The museum is located in the building of a former prison where this torture took place. Tourists will find the cultural center Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Accademia dei Fisiocritici interesting. Here you can learn a lot of cognitive facts about the fauna, including the ancient ones. In the Museo Archeologico di Siena, there is an exposition of artifacts that were found in the region, and the exhibition halls are conveniently divided based on eras, which ensures tourists do not get lost in chronology.

Fans of paintings from the Middle Ages will be interested in visiting the cultural center Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana, where the works of the notorious Duccio di Buoninsegna are represented. On the roof of the building is an observation deck with amazing views of the city with a medieval atmosphere. The museum Ceramiche Bianco e Nero di Staccioli amazes visitors with its beautiful collection of works of art made from ceramics. An excellent way to spend your time is a walk through the magnificent green areas of Siena. Such, for example, are the gardens “Orto Botanico di Siena” and “Giardini la Lizza”, as well as “Orto de 'Pecci Park”. The best cultural institutions with an excellent theater program are Teatro dei Rinnovati and Teatro Dei Rozzi. It is therefore recommended you follow the local repertoire.