COMPLESSO MUSEALE SANTA MARIA DELLA SCALA
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One of the oldest hospitals in the world on the Via Francigena, which in 2007 became a huge cultural complex in Siena.
Considered one of the oldest in the world, this 11th century hospital, located on Via Francigena, was created to assist pilgrims on their way to Rome. In 2007, it became a huge cultural complex of 40,000 square metres. The third artistic centre in Siena, it houses on four levels: the archaeological museum (museo archeologico nazionale); the children's art museum (museo d'arte per bambini), where the paintings are skilfully suspended at child's height; the contemporary art centre and a vast space dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
The entire extension can now be visited after redevelopment work. On the programme are numerous historical spaces (oratory, chapels decorated with frescoes, sacristy...), the northern galleries which contain a fascinating collection of relics displayed in magnificent reliquaries, or the archaeological museum, located in the underground galleries, displaying pieces from prehistory to Roman times, and the museum's sophisticated museography.
Preserved in the fienile, admire the sculptures of Jacopo della Quercia, which once adorned the Gaia Fountain (the city's first public fountain, located in Piazza del Campo). Don't miss the impressive Pilgrims' Hall (Pellegrinaio), covered with frescoes created in the 15th century by Domenico di Bartolo and Lorenzo di Pietro, known as Vecchietta, which illustrate the history of this former hospital and its daily life.
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