Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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, with walls and
pillars continuing the black-and-white-stripe theme of the exterior.
Libreria Piccolomini
Through a door from the north aisle is this enchanting
library
(Piccolomini Library; included in
duomo ticket Mar-Oct, €2 Nov-Feb)
, built to house the books of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, better
known as Pius II. Its walls are decorated with vividly coloured narrative frescoes painted
between 1502 and 1507 by Bernardino Pinturicchio depicting events in the life of Pic-
colomini, including his ordination as pope.
Pisano's Pulpit
The
duomo
's exquisitely crafted marble and porphyry pulpit was created by Nicola Pis-
ano, assisted by Arnolfo di Cambio, who later designed the
duomo
in Florence. Intric-
ately carved with vigorous, realistic crowd scenes, it's one of the masterpieces of Gothic
sculpture.
The Floor Panels
The inlaid-marble floor, decorated with 56 panels by about 40 artists and executed from
the 14th to 16th centuries, depicts historical and biblical subjects. Unfortunately, about
half of the panels are obscured by protective covering, and are revealed only between
late-August and October each year (extra fee applies).
Battistero di San Giovanni
Behind the
duomo
, down a steep flight of steps, is the frescoed
baptistry
(admission €4)
. At
its centre is a hexagonal marble font by Jacopo della Quercia decorated with bronze pan-
els depicting the life of St John the Baptist by artists including Lorenzo Ghiberti
(
Baptism of Christ
and
St John in Prison
) and Donatello (
The Head of John the Baptist
Being Presented to Herod
).
Cripta
This
crypt
(admission incl audioguide €6)
below the cathedral's pulpit was rediscovered and re-
stored in 1999 after having been filled to the roof with debris in the 1300s. The walls are
completely covered with
pintura a secco
('dry painting', better known as 'mural paint-
