Siena Cathedral

Siena Cathedral, Aka Santa Maria Assunta: Holy Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption. 

 

What to say? Wow. SUCH a beautiful and striking cathedral with both its exterior and interior decoration of white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, and its red marble on its façade. Black and white are the symbolic colours of Siena, which links back to the black and white horses of the legendary city's founders, Senius and Aschius.

The inlaid marble mosaic floor – created between the 14^th & 16^th centuries is one of the most remarkable floors I have ever seen and one of the most ornate in all of Italy. Forty artisans were involved in its creation which consist of 56 panels in different sizes. However only a selection are on display at any one time, allowing the others to be protected. Those on display are cordoned off. 

 

So blessed to have had the opportunity to see these utterly incredible floor mosaics. The photos (just a wee selection) really, really don't do them justice. I haven't reminded you for a while, but click on them for best viewing.  Also, more pictures following a bit more text further along.  :)

 

Chapel of Saint John

In this chapel is a bronze statue of St. John the Baptist by renowned Italian artist Donatello and a 15th-century baptismal font. There are also eight frescoes by Pinturicchio, painted 1504-1505. (Two are repainted in the 17th century and a third was completely replaced in 1868.)The original paintings in the chapel are: Nativity of John the Baptist, John the Baptist in the desert and John the Baptist preaching. He also painted two portraits: Aringhieri with the cloak of the Order of the Knights of Malta and Kneeling Knight in Armour. 

The Piccolomini Altar

This is the work of Lombard sculptor Andrea Bregno in 1483 and is remarkable because of the four sculptures in the lower niches, made by the young Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504: Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Gregory and Saint Pius. On top of the altar is the Madonna and Child, a sculpture attributed to Jacopo della Quercia.