Siena Duomo

The Siena Duomo is surely one of the greatest of cathedrals; Wagner said it was 
the most inspiring buidling he had ever seen and based the stage design of 
Parsifal's Temple of the Holy Grail on it; of course, he really didn't travel all that 
much

Facade

Interior; even with hundreds or thousands of visitors, it is one of those buildings
 that fascinates

Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, one of several side chapels

The Library celebrates the life of Pope Pius II and is covered 
with Pinturrichio's giant 1509 frescoes

Michaelangelo's sculptures of Peter (above), Paul, Gregory,
and Pius, are almost lost among all the other masterpieces

One of Siena's more notable features is the prominence of in-laid marble scenes 
all over the main floor; here, the slaughter of the innocents; elsewhere, a dozen 
Sibylls; and more biblical scenes

The 13th century pulpit, by Pisano and the father/son team of 
Arnolfo and Giovanni di Cambio

Detail: damnation (of course)

Ceiling; the effect of the light is very different from, say, 
Chartres, but no less engaging

Altar

In a chapel on the south side, four Bernini sculptures, 
including his exquisite St. Jerome

Dome

Closer up

The nave is lined with busts of all the popes, into the 13th century (the pattern 
repeats, however)...