Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Good and Bad Government
(c 1338-40). The central allegory portrays scenes with per-
sonifications of Justice, Wisdom, Virtue and Peace, all unusually (at the time) depicted as
women, rendered along with scenes of criminal punishment and rewards for righteous-
ness. Set perpendicular from it are the frescoes
Allegory of Good Government
and
Al-
legory of Bad Government
, which feature intensely contrasting scenes set in the recognis-
able environs of Siena. The good depicts a sunlit, idyllic, serene city, with joyous citizens
and a countryside filled with crops; the bad city is filled with vices, crime and disease.
These frescoes are often described as the most important secular paintings of the Renais-
sance, and shouldn't be missed.
Duomo
CHURCH
(
www.operaduomo.siena.it
;
Piazza del Duomo; Mar-Oct €4, Nov-Feb free; 10.30am-6.30pm Mon-Sat,
1.30-5.30pm Sun Mar-Oct, to 5pm Nov-Feb )
Construction of the
duomo
started in 1215 and
work continued well into the 14th century. The magnificent facade of white, green and red
polychrome marble was designed by Giovanni Pisano (the statues of philosophers and
prophets are copies; you'll find the originals in the Museo dell'Opera).
The interior is truly stunning. Walls and pillars continue the black-and-white-stripe
theme of the exterior, while the vaults are painted blue with gold stars. The inlaid-marble
floor, decorated with 56 panels by about 40 artists and executed over the course of 200
years (14th to 16th centuries), depicts historical and biblical subjects. Unfortunately, about
half of the panels are obscured by unsightly, protective covering, and are revealed only
from 21 August through to 27 October each year (admission is €6 during this period).
Other drawcards include the exquisitely crafted marble and porphyry pulpit carved by
Nicola Pisano, assisted by Arnolfo di Cambio, who later designed the
duomo
in Florence.
Intricately carved with vigorous, realistic crowd scenes, it's one of the masterpieces of
Gothic sculpture.
Through a door from the north aisle is the enchanting
Libreria Piccolomini
, built to house
the topics of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, better known as Pius II. The walls of the small hall
are decorated with vividly coloured narrative frescoes painted between 1502 and 1507 by
Bernardino Pinturicchio and depicting events in Piccolomini's life.
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
(Piazza del Duomo; admission €7; 10.30am-6.30pm Mon-Sat, 1.30-5.30pm Sun Mar-Oct, to 5pm Nov-
Feb)
The collection here showcases artworks that formerly adorned the cathedral, includ-
MUSEUM
