Siena, Italy

 Duomo di Siena

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We were in Siena two years ago for our 40th anniversary, and we visited the Siena Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Siena).   It is a medieval church in Siena, Italy.  The cathedral itself was originally designed and completed between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure.

 The she-wolf of Siena

In the interior the pictorial effect of the black and white marble stripes on the walls and columns strikes the eye. Black and white are the colors of the civic coat of arms of Siena.

Nave and dome

The vaulted roof is decorated in blue with golden stars, replacing frescoes on the ceiling, while the formerets (half ribs) and the tiercerons (secondary ribs) are adorned with richly elaborated motifs.

 The pulpit is made of Carrara marble and was sculpted between the end of 1265 and November 1268 by Nicola Pisano and several other artists. The whole message of the pulpit is concerned with the doctrine of Salvation and the Last Judgment.

The hexagonal dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern, like a golden sun.

 The inlaid marble mosaic floor is one of the most ornate of its kind in Italy, covering the whole floor of the cathedral.

The round stained-glass window in the façade dates from 1549 and represents the Last Supper. It is the work of Pastorino de' Pasatorini.

One of the most awesome things to me was the two guys who were playing accordians outside the Duomo.  It sounded like organs playing inside the cathedral.  They were fabulous!  I found this YouTube performance that was done the day we were there!  Hope you enjoy the music as much as we did!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rAY0IECkjU

        

Enjoy being in Sienna, Italy!  We loved everything about Siena, even if the temperature was sweltering in August when we were there!