Streets and Palazzi
A brief description of the main streets and grand houses.
Palazzo Pubblico (Siena Town Hall
Dominating the Campo (Siena’s main square), it is one of the great secular buildings of Italy
Cathedral Museum (Museo del OPA)
Another of the musts of Siena. It contains Duccio’s masterpiece, the Maestà, and a number of other important works, and also gives access to the top of the Facciatone, the intended façade of the new cathedral which was never built, from which there are great views.
Hospital Santa Maria della Scala (medieval hospital now a museum)
Siena's ancient hospital, now a museum. It contains one of the best non-religious cycles of frescoes in Italy, and now also houses the Etruscan collection of Siena and various other collections.
Pinacoteca (art gallery)
Siena's main picture gallery. It contains almost only Sienese painting, but of that it has the finest collection in the world.
Siena State Archives
A little visited but fascinating display of painted file covers (“Biccherne”) from Siena’s 13th-17th city account books.
Oratorio San Bernardino
One of the most delightful galleries in Siena, small enough to avoid cultural indigestion and containing a perfect frescoed room and a masterwork of Sienese painting. Despite this, it is very little visited.
The Fountains of Siena
The fountains that supplied Siena with water in times past.
The Gates of Siena