Uncovering the Duomo’s pavement: an event not to be missed
A carefully conserved heritage
Siena is a city full of art and culture, that attracts thousands of visitors each year thanks to its invaluable historical and artistic heritage. Among the main tourist attractions are the magnificient Duomo, also known as the Santa Maria Assunta Metropolitan Cathedral. It is a beautiful Romanesque-Gothic church, easily recognizable among the most famous sacred buildings, due to its typical two-color surface. The Duomo is a true symbol of the city, and it houses one of the most incredible artistic masterpieces, that has been worked on for six centuries, from the fourtheenth to the nineteenth century: its floor, a work of art that has almost a history of its own, besides the one of the whole Cathedral, and is so precious and delicate that it is jealously guarded under a masonite (wood fiber) cover to prevent any damage the may be caused by the steps of thousands of visitors. Such a beauty, however, can not remain all the time concealed from the sight of the tourists, and so each year, from August 18 to October 26, the cover is removed and the sumptuous floor is shown to the public in all its splendor.
An invaluable artistic masterpiece
Made with the ancient and complicated technique of marble inlay, the floor is an amazing sequence of sculptured scenes that represent several episodes taken from, for the most part, the scriptures. The result is that this particular type of mosaic leaves really breathless and it is thanks to the unrivaled mastery of the artists who devoted themselves to it, among which Domenico di Bartolo, Antonio Federighi and, above all, Domenico Beccafumi. The latter, author of many of the 56 scenes that make up the extraordinary flooring, introduced several innovations in the techniques of marble working, reaching a surprising degree of precision and almost pictorial realism, thanks to a wise use of shadings. Walking along the aisles, amongst the imposing two-colored columns leading to the altar, visitors can admire an exquisite series of tarsies depicting famous episodes and artistic allegories, linked together by a harmonious sequence of decorative lines and geometric drawings. Among the most fascinating, the Sacrifice of Isaac and the series of the Stories of Moses, both of Beccafumi’s works, Siena’s Lupa among the symbols of the allied cities, The Seven Ages of Man, by Antonio Federighi, and the Allegory of the Hill of Wisdom, designed by Pinturicchio, the only non-Tuscan artist to participate in the realization of this magnificent complex.
The pavement of the Duomo: one more reason to visit Siena
The uncovering of the pavement of Siena’s Cathedral is an unmissable event for those visiting the city at the end of Aummer or in the early Autumn, a further reason to visit the beautiful Piazza Duomo. The opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm and Sundays from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. You can book a guided tour or rent an audioguide within the Duomo. It is not permitted to take photographs, however.