CATTEDRALE SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA
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The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the oldest Gothic churches in Italy. A true stone book, it is also one of the most beautiful creations of Italian Romano-Gothic art, the construction of which lasted almost two centuries (12th and 14th centuries), a symbol of Siena's wealth and prosperity.
Most of its sumptuous façade, built between 1284 and 1299, is the work of Giovanni Pisano, although the bas-relief on the south side of the Pardon Gate is by Donatello (the original is in the Museum of the Work). The facade is composed of white, black and red marble, its three portals and colonnades are decorated with fine sculptures. The horizontal effect of the white and black marble stripes characterizes its bell tower dating from 1313.The interior is remarkable with its height under the ceiling. At your feet, the coloured marble floor, finely worked and divided into 56 sacred and profane scenes, is exceptional. Unfortunately, it is not possible to see all of them at the same time because a part is covered to preserve them. The finesse of the whole, created between 1372 and 1547, is prodigious. When the German composer Richard Wagner visited the cathedral, he was "moved to tears by this show," his wife Cosima told in a letter written in 1880
, and the choir and high altar are by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1506). In the right transept, we can see a Baroque chapel attributed to Bernini, while the left transept houses the splendid pulpit with porphyry columns and green marble of Nicola Pisano, a marvel of Gothic sculpture, as well as works by Donatello (such as the bronze statue of Saint John the Baptist). There is also Michelangelo's Saint Paul (1502), probably a self-portrait.
The crypt, opened to the public in 2002, located under the duomo's pulpit, is a total surprise. There are frescoes from 1270-1275 in a remarkably preserved state. This cycle of paintings was made dry (pittura a secco) by several artists such as Guido da Siena, Dietisalvi di Speme, Guido di Graziano and Rinaldo da Siena. 180 m² of scenes including the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus. Access is from the back of the main entrance of the cathedral, through the San Giovanni Baptistery.
Against the left side of the cathedral, the Libreria Piccolomini, built in 1495 by Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini Todeschini (future Pope Pius III), should not be missed.
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Sans doute l'une des plus belles cathédrales qu'il m'ait été donné de visiter, devançant de loin celle de Florence en finesse et en qualité d'ornementation. Grande frustration effectivement de ne pas pouvoir voir tout le pavement et certaines des oeuvres majeures. Mais qu'importe, il y a tant à voir que cela compense facilement le manque. On reste sans voix dans la Libreria Piccolomini (levez la tête). On sort du duomo émerveillé, même si c'est un jour pluvieux et gris.
Architecture Gothique remarquable et a l'intérieur, le pavement en marbre de couleur est finement travaillé pour représenter des scènes sacrées.
Visiter le Baptistaire dédié a la vierge , tableaux magnifiques.
A ne pas manquer sur Sienne . Jean Paul