Duomo di Siena
Duomo di Siena – The Duomo di Siena, officially the Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Assunta (Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption), is one of the finest examples of Italian Gothic architecture and one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Italy. Built between 1215 and 1263, with significant later additions, the cathedral is renowned for its striking striped marble exterior in alternating bands of white and greenish-black, and its richly decorated interior featuring masterpieces by some of the greatest Italian artists. The cathedral complex houses extraordinary works including the magnificent inlaid marble floor (considered one of the most spectacular in the world), Nicola Pisano’s pulpit, Duccio’s Maestà (now in the Museo dell’Opera), Pinturicchio’s frescoes in the Piccolomini Library, Donatello’s bronze sculptures, and Michelangelo’s St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Pius, and St. Gregory statues in the Piccolomini Altar. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Siena and remains one of the city’s most important religious and artistic landmarks.
