- The facade: a book in marble
- The floor: a museum laid on the ground
- The Piccolomini Library and the Baptistery
- Tickets, opening hours and practical tips
- How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
- Conclusion
Siena Cathedral is just 30 minutes from Poggibonsi, and visiting it is one of the most unforgettable things you can do in Tuscany.
The facade: a book in marble
The facade of Siena Cathedral was designed by Giovanni Pisano in the late 13th century. White Carrara marble and green Prato marble alternate in horizontal stripes, while the three Gothic portals are crowned with pinnacles, spires and golden mosaics that shimmer in the sunlight with a dazzling and wonderful effect.
The original statues by Giovanni Pisano that decorated the facade are today preserved in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, accessible with the same ticket. The marble replacements left in place retain all the visual force of the original.
The floor: a museum laid on the ground
The floor of Siena Cathedral is one of the most extraordinary in the world. Executed between the 14th and 16th centuries, it comprises 56 inlaid marble panels with Old Testament scenes, allegories, sibyls and maps. It is the work of dozens of artists including Domenico di Bartolo, Matteo di Giovanni, Pinturicchio and Beccafumi.
The floor is not always fully visible: some sections are covered to protect them. During the summer weeks (August-October), the covering is removed to allow the complete viewing of this masterpiece.
The Piccolomini Library and the Baptistery
The Piccolomini Library, accessible from the left nave, was built in 1495 by Francesco Piccolomini to house Pope Pius II's library. Pinturicchio's frescoes decorating the walls tell the pontiff's life in ten scenes of extraordinary chromatic and narrative vividness: figures in Renaissance costumes, landscapes, architecture, exotic animals.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni, accessible from the square beside the Cathedral, holds the baptismal font with reliefs by Ghiberti, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia: a work that is itself worth a museum visit.
Tickets, opening hours and practical tips
The most convenient way to visit the Cathedral complex is the OPA SI Pass, which includes the Cathedral, Piccolomini Library, Baptistery, Crypt, Museo dell'Opera and the view from the Facciatona. The cost is around 15 euros for adults.
Opening hours: generally 10:30-17:30 in winter, 10:00-19:00 in summer. On Sunday mornings the Cathedral is reserved for Mass, so tourist entry is limited. Best to go on a Monday or on weekday afternoons to avoid the crowds.
How to Get There from Hotel La Magione
From Hotel La Magione in Poggibonsi, Siena Cathedral is just 30 minutes by car or 40 by Tiemme bus. The Cathedral is a few minutes' walk from Piazza del Campo. Park outside the walls and reach the centre on foot or by shuttle: it is the best strategy for enjoying Siena stress-free.
Conclusion
Siena Cathedral is one of those places that never stops surprising you. Every visit reveals something new, a previously unnoticed detail, a different play of light, an emotion that is always fresh and always profound. Give yourself time: this is not a place to rush through. It is a place to inhabit, even if only for an hour.Ready to experience Tuscany?Hotel La Magione is your perfect base.
Book your stayand let yourself be captivated by Tuscan magic.