"Siena’s Cathedral museum" Museo dell'opera del duomo Tip by brendareed

This is where all the originals from the cathedral are kept – statues, windows, altar pieces. It protects them from the weather, vandalism, and gives them more correct temperatures and lighting in order to maintain the art.

The original stained glass window is at the end of a room filled with the original outside statues. The window is lit with artificial light so you can see how beautiful it is. It was created by Duccio in the 1300s. As you look around the room at the statues, you’ll see how their necks are long and strained – out of proportion to a point that it really looks strange! This is because these statues were designed to be seen from the ground while they were up high – so they were made this way so people could see the heads from down below!

Probably the best treasure in the museum is Duccio’s Maesta which is now kept protected in its own room with full time guards watching for people getting too close or attempting to take photos. They have split the altarpiece in two parts and have the front side on one wall and the back side on the opposite wall. There are chairs to sit and admire the work. On the back side of the piece is the Passion cycle – follow the architecture in the smaller paintings to find the correct sequence.

From the museum, you can head up to the top of the façade (where Siena had hoped to build a much larger cathedral). This is a bit of a climb and through small spiral staircases, but at the very top you get a wonderful view of Siena, the cathedral, and the Piazza del Campo. You go up half-way and come to a walkway that you can catch your breath and enjoy a view, then find the small stairwell that continues the climb to the very top. If you are not afraid of heights or claustrophobic, this is a must-do, especially on a clear, sunny day. We got lucky and had that kind of weather – it was just really cold in January!

Address: Piazza del Duomo
Directions: Entrance is beside the ticket counter that is next to the Cathedral