Facciata del Duomo Nuovo
One of the places with the most beautiful view over the rooftops of Siena
OPENING HOURS
Cathedral, Piccolomini Library, Museum, Panorama and “Duomo Nuovo”, Crypt, Baptistry, Beneath the Cathedral, Gate of Heaven
1 March – 31 October: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
Sundays, public holidays: 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Eve of public holidays: 10:30 am – 6:00 pm
1 November – 28 February (but not 26 December – 8 January): 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sundays, public holidays: 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Sundays, public holidays: 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
26 December – 6 January: 10:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sundays, public holidays: 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Sundays, public holidays: 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Uncovering Floor Period Cathedral:
Sundays, public holidays: 9:30 am – 6 pm
Porta del Cielo:
Open from 1 March to 7 January.
The schedules follow those of the Cathedral.
It is accessed with a visit to the Museum of the Opera del Duomo: it is one of the points from which you can better understand the urban layout of the city and enjoy a breath-taking view over the rooftops of Siena. It is what all the Sienese call the facciatone (“great facade”) of what was supposed to be the new Duomo. A church so big, that the current Cathedral was supposed to be only its transept.
But the project was never realized: a bit for the arrival of the plague that decimated the Sienese population in 1348 and started a period of dreadful famine, a bit for stability problems of the structure, in fact they advised to destroy what had been built.
Of the new Duomo remains, however, the great facade, with bands of black and white marble, the square Jacopo della Quercia which was supposed to be the nave, the pillars of the northeastern nave, covered with white and black marble, on which the arches are set, supporting the coverings of the Museum of the Opera (obtained by infilling the first three bays of the right nave) and the lodge in the front.
