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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 |
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Facade
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Interior; even with hundreds or thousands of visitors, it is one of those buildings
that fascinates |
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Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, one of several side chapels
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The Library celebrates the life of Pope Pius II and is covered
with Pinturrichio's giant 1509 frescoes |
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Michaelangelo's sculptures of Peter (above), Paul, Gregory,
and Pius, are almost lost among all the other masterpieces |
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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 |
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The 13th century pulpit, by Pisano and the father/son team of
Arnolfo and Giovanni di Cambio |
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Detail: damnation (of course)
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Ceiling; the effect of the light is very different from, say,
Chartres, but no less engaging |
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Altar
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In a chapel on the south side, four Bernini sculptures,
including his exquisite St. Jerome |
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Dome
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Closer up
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The nave is lined with busts of all the popes, into the 13th century (the pattern
repeats, however)... |
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