Page 348 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

346  CENTR AL IT AL Y

Siena: Duomo

Siena’s Duomo (1136–1382), one of Italy’s greatest
cathedrals, is a spectacular mixture of sculpture, paintings
and Pisan-influenced Romanesque-Gothic architecture.
Had 14th-century plans to create a new nave come to
fruition, the building would have become the largest
church in Christendom. In the event the plan came to
nothing, abandoned when the plague of 1348 virtually
halved the city’s population. Among the Duomo’s
treasures are sculptural masterpieces by Nicola Pisano,
Donatello and Michelangelo, a fine inlaid pavement
and a magnificent fresco cycle by Pinturicchio. Baptismal Font
This Renaissance font by della
Quercia, Ghiberti and Donatello
stands in the Baptistry.

Pulpit Panels
Carved in 1265–8 by Nicola Pisano,
with help from Arnolfo di Cambio and
his son Giovanni, the panels on the
octagonal pulpit depict scenes from
the Life of Christ.

KEY
1 In the nave black and white
marble pillars support the vault.
2 The Campanile was added
in 1313.
3 Archway leading to the Baptistry.
4 The Museo dell’Opera del
Duomo occupies the side aisle of
the unfinished nave, which was
roofed over to house the museum.
5 The façade gives indication of Inlaid marble floor
planned size of nave.
6 The unfinished nave, if
completed, would have measured Piccolomini
50 m (162 ft) in length and 30 m Library
(97 ft) in breadth. Pinturicchio’s
frescoes (1509)
7 The doors were built in 1284–97,
the rest of the façade a century later. portray the life of
the Piccolomini
8 The north aisle contains pope, Pius II. Here
sculptures by Michelangelo of he presides at the
saints Peter, Pius, Gregory and betrothal of
Paul (1501–4). Frederick III
9 Chapel of St John the Baptist to Eleonora
of Portugal.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

346-347_EW_Italy.indd 346 26/04/16 5:17 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 23rd October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm