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Romanesque-Gothic cathedral of Siena with the famous marble-inlaid floor, the pulpits and the Piccolomini Library frescoed by Pinturicchio.
May 16, 2026 – November 15, 2026
In the crypt of the cathedral complex, photographs by the American Bill Armstrong reinterpret the marble floor with the Sibyls: deliberately blurred images that evoke the uncertainty of oracular knowledge.
The Duomo di Siena, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, is one of the most important examples of Romanesque-Gothic cathedral architecture in Italy. According to tradition it stands on the site of an earlier Marian church of the 9th century; the building was consecrated in 1179. In the 13th century Nicola Pisano worked here, creating the pulpit carved between 1265 and 1268, and his son Giovanni made the lower part of the façade. Giovanni’s original sculptures are now kept in the Museo dell’Opera.
The interior holds masterpieces of sculpture and painting from every period, with works by Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini and Beccafumi. The most famous feature is the floor, begun in the 14th century and completed only in the 19th century: its fifty-six marble inlaid panels were designed by Sienese artists and by Pinturicchio. To protect it, it is uncovered only at certain times of the year.
The Libreria Piccolomini was commissioned around 1492 by Cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, later pope Pio III, to house the books of his uncle Pio II. Between 1503 and 1508 Pinturicchio and his workshop frescoed it with ten episodes from the life of Pio II and a vault decorated with grotesques. The display cases hold illuminated antiphonaries and graduals from the 15th century. The Duomo complex is managed by the Opera della Metropolitana di Siena, a non-profit body that uses ticket revenue for conservation and restoration.
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 6 · With the Opa Si Pass, children aged 7 to 11 pay €3. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities with a companion. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €8 per personReduced rate for groups and school parties (more than 14 people) and guided groups, applicable during the periods when the floor is uncovered. |
| Opa Si Pass (Cathedral, Piccolomini Library, Museo dell’Opera, Facciatone, Crypt, Baptistery, Oratorio di San Bernardino), valid for three days | €14€16 during the period when the floor is uncovered |
| Ticket with access to the cathedral roofs (Porta del Cielo) and all sites of the complex | €21 |
The ticket for the Cathedral alone costs €7, but €10 during the periods when the floor is uncovered (from 27 June to 31 July and from 18 August to 15 November 2026). Free admission for children up to 6 years old, residents and people born in the Comune di Siena, accredited journalists, people with disabilities with a companion, clergy, students of the Università di Siena and the Università per Stranieri, and parish groups of the Archdiocese with a letter from the parish priest. Tickets can be bought online, by phone and at the ticket offices in Piazza Duomo 7 and at the “Dear Guests” Visitor Center in Via di Città 48.
The Cathedral is accessible via a dedicated ramp on the left side of the building; the Museo dell’Opera, the Crypt and the Baptistery currently have no accessibility facilities.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
The Duomo is in the historic centre and cannot be reached directly by car; the Parcheggio Duomo (Siena Ovest exit) and the Parcheggio Il Campo (Siena Sud exit) are recommended.
Information and bookings: +39 0577 286300.
Get directionsBookshop in the Antica Canonica inside the Cathedral (tel. 0577 47980) and at the Museo dell’Opera.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | The Opa Si Pass includes a free audio guide that can be used on a smartphone. Guided tours with licensed guides by reservation (tel. +39 0577 286300, opasiena@operalaboratori.com). The Cathedral remains always open to the faithful for prayer through the Porta del Perdono. |
