No doubt Siena's social highlight in August is the Palio horse race (Palio dell'Assunta on August 16), which is shortly followed by a cultural highlight - the uncovering of the entire intarsia marble floor of Siena's cathedral.
As every year the spectacular marble floor will remain uncovered for two months until the end of October. For the remaining ten months the art works which are lining the surface of Siena's cathedral are mostly covered up to protect them from wear and tear.
A special add on in 2013 are the night time visits to the cathedral each Saturday (book ahead for a guided visit between 8 pm and midnight), and the possibility to combine the visit with the guided tours to the cathedral's roof, which will allow you to see the whole of the uncovered floor from above. A first time ever!
Whether you love Wagner or not, in the year the music world is celebrating his bicentennial, it's worth remembering his rapture when visiting Siena's cathedral. His wife Cosima noted in her diary, that Richard was moved to tears by the splendor of the building. So much so that he decided to use the cathedral's cupola as the model for the temple of the graal in his last opera Parsifal.
For more details about the technique and history of one of Siena's masterpieces read the article I wrote about it last year: The marble floor of Siena's cathedral.
SIENA CATHEDRAL MARBLE FLOOR UNCOVERED: 18 AUGUST TO OCTOBER 27, 2014
As every year the spectacular marble floor will remain uncovered for two months until the end of October. For the remaining ten months the art works which are lining the surface of Siena's cathedral are mostly covered up to protect them from wear and tear.
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| Siena's marble floor seen from above during the Gate to Heaven visit |
A special add on in 2013 are the night time visits to the cathedral each Saturday (book ahead for a guided visit between 8 pm and midnight), and the possibility to combine the visit with the guided tours to the cathedral's roof, which will allow you to see the whole of the uncovered floor from above. A first time ever!
Whether you love Wagner or not, in the year the music world is celebrating his bicentennial, it's worth remembering his rapture when visiting Siena's cathedral. His wife Cosima noted in her diary, that Richard was moved to tears by the splendor of the building. So much so that he decided to use the cathedral's cupola as the model for the temple of the graal in his last opera Parsifal.
For more details about the technique and history of one of Siena's masterpieces read the article I wrote about it last year: The marble floor of Siena's cathedral.
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| Siena's cathedral at sunset |
SIENA CATHEDRAL MARBLE FLOOR UNCOVERED: 18 AUGUST TO OCTOBER 27, 2014
OPENING TIMES OF THE CATHEDRAL
Monday to Saturday 10.30 am to 7.30 pm
Sunday 9.30 am to 6 pm
TICKETS (at the ticket office near the Opa museum)
Opa
Si Pass all inclusive ticket €12,00 (best option if you also want to visit baptistery, crypt and the Opa museum)
Cathedral with marble floor and Piccolomini library € 7,00
Porta del Cielo (gate to heaven) guided tour, plus entrance to cathedral and Piccolomini library € 25,00
Read my review if you're thinking to book the Gate to Heaven guided visit (I highly recommend it).
Read my review if you're thinking to book the Gate to Heaven guided visit (I highly recommend it).
GUIDED VISITS
Daily at 11 am, noon, 3.30 pm and 4:30 pm.
Multimedia guides are available if you missed out on the guided tour.
NIGHTTIME VISITS each Saturday from August 24 to October 26 on reservation only.
Phone: +39 0577 28 63 00; Email: opasiena@operalaboratori.com
More info on the Opera Duomo website.
Phone: +39 0577 28 63 00; Email: opasiena@operalaboratori.com
More info on the Opera Duomo website.