Siena Cathedral 2024: The Complete Guide First Time Visitors

On a visit to the Siena Cathedral, not only can you admire its unique appearance both inside and out, but you can also tour the Crypt and the Baptistery, visit the museum, and view the cathedral from unique vantage points, such as the from the Gate of Heaven.

With multiple ticket options and numerous places to visit within the Siena duomo complex, planning a visit here might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this guide, we cover how to visit the Siena Cathedral, the places you can visit within the Siena duomo complex, as well as ticket types, tour options, plus a sample itinerary to help you plan your time.

With proper planning, you can have a wonderful experience at the Siena Cathedral. Here’s how to do it.

Interesting Facts about the Siena Cathedral

The Siena Cathedral (also called the Duomo di Siena and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta) was constructed between 1215 and 1264.

In the 1300’s, there was a plan to enlarge the cathedral, which would have doubled its size. Construction began but was halted during the Black Death of 1348. These unfinished walls still stand, which are now referred to as the New Cathedral, Unfinished Façade, or Facciatone. Walking on the walkways of the Facciatone is one of the best things to do on a visit to the Siena Cathedral.

The Siena Cathedral was constructed with black and white marble, which are the colors of coat of arms of Siena. The striped marble gives the Siena Cathedral a very unique appearance, both inside and out.

Numerous Renaissance artists were instrumental in designing and creating works of art for the Siena Cathedral. On this list are Giovanni Pisano, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Donatello, and Michelangelo, just to name a few.

The Siena Cathedral

Things to Do at the Siena Cathedral

The Siena Cathedral is part of the Monument Complex of the Cathedral. This “complex” includes the Siena Cathedral and associated sites, including the crypt, the baptistery, the museum, the Piccolomini Library, the Oratory of San Bernardino, the Gate of Heaven, and the Panorama from the Unfinished Façade (the Facciatone).

The Façade of the Siena Cathedral

Ticket Type: None required (free!)

One of the best things to do at the Siena Cathedral is to admire it from the outside.

The west façade, which is where the main entrance into the cathedral is located, is gorgeous. French Gothic, Classic architecture, and Tuscan Romanesque architecture are blended together to create one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy.

Statues and sculptures adorn the exterior of the cathedral. Most of what we see are replicas and the original statues are safely housed within the Cathedral Museum.

As you walk around the cathedral, you can fully appreciate its black and white marble walls and the unfinished façade of the “New Cathedral.”

Interior of the Siena Cathedral

Ticket Types: Cathedral, Opa Si Pass, and Porta del Cielo
Hours: Hours vary by season, but in general the cathedral is open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Get updated hours for your visit here.

Step inside one of the most breathtaking cathedrals in Italy.

The mosaic floor, zebra-striped walls, stained glass windows, sculptures, and paintings all combine to create a truly beautiful place to visit in Italy. We have visited this cathedral several times and it is one of our favorites. It even amazed our kids, who were 9 and 11 at the time, which is saying something.

There is a lot to see inside of the Siena Cathedral. Plan on spending about 30 minutes here if you want to see everything on the list below.

The Mosaic Floor

The marble mosaic inlay and graffito floor is one of the most ornate floors in all of Italy. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Sienese artisans created 56 inlay panels for the floor of the Siena Cathedral.

These various panels tell different stories, some from the pagan world, the Gospel of St. Matthew, and the Old Testament. Some of the most important panels include the She Wolf Suckling the Twins, Moses Striking Water from the Rock, and The Slaughter of the Innocents.

To protect the floor, sections of it are covered for most of the year. The entire floor is uncovered from late June through the end of July and again from mid-August to mid-October. You can get the official dates of when it will be uncovered here.

The Pulpit

The pulpit was sculpted by Nicola Pisano and several other artists from 1265 to 1268. It is made of Carrara marble and shows scenes from the Life of Christ and has statues of Prophets and Evangelists. It is the earliest remaining work in the cathedral.

Works of Art Inside the Siena Cathedral

Several famous Renaissance artists created sculptures and paintings for the Siena Cathedral. These include:

• Sculptures of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Pius, and St. Augustine by Michelangelo
• Sculpture of St. John the Baptist by Donatello
• Sculptures of St. Mary Magdalen and St. Jerome by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
• Madonna of the Vow by Dietisalvi di Speme

Stained Glass Windows

Also not to be missed are the colorful stained glass windows throughout the Siena Cathedral. The rose window is a replica. The original is located inside of the Operal del Duomo museum. However, the stained glass window The Last Supper dates back to 1549.

The Piccolomini Library

Ticket Types: Cathedral, Opa Si Pass, and Porta del Cielo
Hours: Same as the Siena Cathedral. Hours vary by season, but in general the cathedral is open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Get updated hours for your visit here.

The Piccolomini Library was built to honor Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini (Pope Pius II) and to protect the books the pope collected. Commissioned by Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, the nephew of Pope Pius II, the frescoes tell the life story of Pope Pius II.

The library was built in 1492 and from 1503 to 1508, Pinturicchio and his assistants, including Raphael, painted the frescoes that cover the walls. Don’t miss the Three Graces, which is a Roman copy of the original Greek statue.

The entrance into the Piccolomini Library is located inside of the Siena Cathedral, on the left-hand side of the nave. It takes just a few minutes to visit the library and it is well worth it.

Piccolomini Library

The Panorama & New Cathedral

Ticket Types: Opa Si Pass and Porta del Cielo
Hours: Hours vary by season, but in general the Panorama is open from 10 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm on Sundays and public holidays. Get updated hours for your visit here.

For one of the best views of the Siena Cathedral and Siena, be sure to visit the Panorama and the New Cathedral, also called the Panorama from the Unfinished Façade and the Panorama dal Facciatone.

The New Cathedral is the portion of the cathedral that was constructed but never finished in the 1300’s. The arrival of the Black Death halted construction and it was never resumed, leaving behind these walls and a portion of the nave of the New Cathedral.

On the top of the unfinished walls is a terrace with a great viewpoint where you can look down on the Siena Cathedral and over the town of Siena. This is referred to as the Panorama.

The Panorama from the Unfinished Facade (photo taken on the Gate of Heaven tour)

Entrance into the Panorama is inside of the Cathedral Museum. Climb the stairs to upper level. There will be signs directing you to the Panorama (Facciatone).

Depending on the time of day, there is a very good chance that you will wait in line. A limited number of people are permitted to visit the Panorama, because the spiral staircases are only wide enough for one-way traffic. It is a slow-moving line, so even if it is short, it could take a while. But it is worth it.

On a visit to the Panorama, you will visit two levels. From the museum, you will climb a narrow, spiral staircase to the first level. Here is the view.

The view of Siena from the lower level of the Panorama

The view of the Siena Cathedral from the lower level

The lower level walkway

After roughly 5 minutes on the first level, you and your small group will be directed to climb another narrow staircase to the upper level. The view from here is phenomenal, both of the Siena Cathedral and Siena. Here is the view.

The view of Siena from the upper level of the Panorama

The view of the Siena Cathedral from the upper level

On the upper level of the Panorama

We did this midday in September and our entire visit lasted 45 minutes, which includes the wait in line.

The Cathedral Museum

Ticket Type: Opa Si Pass and Porta del Cielo
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm April 1 to October 31 with reduced hours the remainder of the year. Get updated hours here.

The Cathedral Museum, also called the Museo dell’Opera, is located inside of the north aisle of the New Cathedral.

This museum contains a lot of the original works of art that were made for the Siena Cathedral. On this list are the stained-glass Rose Window by Duccio di Buoninsegna, sculptures by Pisano and Donatello, the altarpiece by Duccio di Buoninsegna, and the Treasury.

The Rose Window

On the top level of the museum is the entrance into the Panorama of the Unfinished Façade. You can go here first, and then visit the rooms and exhibits of the museum as you work your way back to ground level. If you just want to see the Rose Window, that is on the first level.

The Crypt

Ticket Type: Opa Si Pass and Porta del Cielo
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm April 1 to October 31 with reduced hours the remainder of the year. Get updated hours here.

This “hidden gem” was discovered and then renovated in 1999. At this time, areas under the Siena Cathedral underwent a restoration project, revealing the amazing frescoes in the crypt of the cathedral. For centuries, these frescoes were hidden beneath the cathedral, which may be why they are so well preserved. The uncovering of these frescoes has been described as one of the most important recent archaeological finds.

The frescoes in the Crypt were painted in the 12th century and they tell stories from the Old and New Testaments.

Frescoes inside the Crypt

The Crypt is very small and a visit here lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Entrance into the Crypt is located on the right side of the Siena Cathedral, just a few steps from the entrance into the Cathedral Museum.

The Baptistery of San Giovanni

Ticket Type: Opa Si Pass and Porta del Cielo

Hours: 10 am to 7 pm April 1 to October 31 with reduced hours the remainder of the year. Get updated hours here.

The Baptistery was added on to the Siena Cathedral in the early 14th century. The interior of the Baptistery is covered with beautiful frescoes. Donatello, Giovanni di Turino, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Jacopo della Quercia all contributed to the creation of the Baptismal font.

Entrance into the Baptistery is at the back of the Siena Cathedral. A visit here lasts 5 to 10 minutes.

The Gate of Heaven (Porta del Cielo)

Ticket Type: Porta del Cielo

The Gate of Heaven is a guided tour of the roof and terraces of the Siena Cathedral. It’s one of the best things to do at the Siena Cathedral, since you get to tour “hidden” areas of the cathedral and get unique views of the nave.

The groups are limited to 18 people. During the tour, you get to walk on a few outdoor walkways for great views of Siena, the cathedral, and the unfinished façade of the New Cathedral.

Here is what you can expect to see along the Gate of Heaven tour.

First, you will climb a spiral staircase to the upper level of the cathedral. This is the most strenuous part of the tour.

Once you emerge from the staircase, you will walk along an upper hallway on the inside of the cathedral. From here, there are a few windows with views down onto the cathedral floor.

The view of the Pulpit and mosaic floor

Windows on the upper level of the cathedral with a view of nave.

Next, you walk out onto an outdoor terrace. From this very narrow walkway, you look out over the roof of the Siena Cathedral and the unfinished section of the New Cathedral.

The view of Town Hall

The view of the Facciatone

The view long the outside of the cathedral

I don’t know what I liked more…the view from the outdoor terrace or the next part of this experience, where you cross the nave on walkway and can gaze along the inside of the Siena Cathedral. It is an incredible view.

The view overlooking the altar

The view of the nave

As you head towards the front of the cathedral, you will briefly walk outside again, although the views aren’t quite as good as from the first outdoor terrace.

Once again, you will cross over the nave. Now that you are at the front of the Siena Cathedral, you can look down the entire length of it.

Your visit ends by walking down a spiral staircase to the main level of the Siena Cathedral.

The Oratory of San Bernardino

The Oratory of San Bernardino is a museum that contains Sienese paintings from the 13th century to the 18th century. It is located inside the Oratory of San Bernardino building, which was built in the Middle Ages to host the fraternities of St. Francis and St. Mary.

This building is not located near the Siena Cathedral. It is located on the opposite side of town, next to the Basilica di San Francesco.

Siena Ticket Types

There are three different tickets to visit the Siena Cathedral and related sites.

Cathedral

Cost: €7; when the floor of the cathedral is uncovered, the cost is €10
Validity: 3 days
Includes: Siena Cathedral and Piccolomini Library

Note: On the Vivaticket website (the official ticket seller), this ticket is called the NP-INTERO PREV ticket.

Opa Si Pass

Cost: €16; when the floor of the cathedral is uncovered, the cost is €18
Validity: 3 days
Includes: Siena Cathedral, Piccolomini Library, the Crypt, the Baptistery, the Cathedral Museum, and the Panorama of the Unfinished Façade

Note: On the Vivaticket website (the official ticket seller), this ticket is called the NP-OPASIPASS PREV ticket.

Porta del Cielo Pass

Cost: €22
Validity: 3 days
Includes: The Gate of Heaven plus all the sites on the Opa Si Pass (Siena Cathedral, Piccolomini Library, the Crypt, the Baptistery, the Cathedral Museum, and the Panorama of the Unfinished Façade)

All three passes include the audioguide.

For updated pricing and to purchase your ticket in advance, visit the official website.

If you plan to tour the Gate of Heaven, purchase the Porta del Cielo Pass, and you also get access to everything within the monumental complex.

For each of these passes, you have three days to visit all of the sites, so you don’t have to cram them all in on one day. If you were to see all of them, it will take about 2.5 to 3 hours.

The view from the Panorama of the Unfinished Facade

How to Get to the Siena Cathedral

The Siena Cathedral is located in the city center of Siena. This area is pedestrian only, so you cannot take a bus or taxi to get here. However, from the Siena Cathedral, it is a 5 or 10-minute walk to most sites in town.

Best Time of Day to Visit the Siena Cathedral

The Siena Cathedral is one of Siena’s most visited attractions, so expect large crowds here all day, especially from 10:30 am through 3:00 pm.

If you want to avoid the long line to visit the Panorama of the Unfinished Façade, go to the Cathedral Museum at opening time and then go right to the entrance to the Panorama. Once you are finished here, tour the museum and then visit the other sites of the duomo complex.

The Baptistery and the Crypt do not typically have a line to enter, or if they do, they tend to be short. There can be a line to enter the cathedral, since you will go through security, but there is no bypassing this wait, even on a skip the line tour.

For the Gate of Heaven experience, you will book a time slot in advance, so you do not have to wait in line to do this.

The end of the day tends to be less crowded than midday, so visiting the cathedral and related sites from 5 pm to 7 pm could have less people and less lines. Just double check the closing times on the official website before you go and be aware that last entry is generally 30 minutes before closing time.

Siena Cathedral Itinerary

Here is an itinerary for a visit to the Siena Cathedral from April 1 to October 31, when the cathedral opens at 10 am. For the remainder of the year, start at 10:30 am. Be aware that many sites of the duomo complex do not open until early afternoon on Sunday, so you will either have to adjust the timing of this itinerary or save your visit for a different day of the week, if your visit is on a Sunday.

10:00 am: Panorama from the New Cathedral
10:30 am: Cathedral Museum
11:00 am: Baptistery
11:10 am: Crypt
11:20 am: Siena Cathedral and Piccolomini Museum
12:00 pm: Gate of Heaven

The dome of the Siena Cathedral

Tours of the Siena Cathedral

If you aren’t able to get a ticket for Siena Cathedral (for example, if tickets are sold out), or if you prefer to tour the cathedral with an experienced guide, then you can book a tour.

Through GetYourGuide, you can book an entrance ticket to the cathedral and the Piccolomini Library and the OPA SI Pass. These cost a few euros extra but have the advantage of free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance with a full refund.

You can also take a walking tour of Siena that includes a guided tour of the Siena Cathedral. 

Helpful Tips for Visiting the Siena Cathedral

Dress Code

Shoulders and legs must be covered in order to visit the Siena Cathedral. This dress code is not always enforced but it is better to dress modestly than risk being turned away for wearing a tank top or short shorts.

What to Do After Your Visit

Santa Maria della Scala was one of Europe’s first hospitals. It has been converted into a museum. Frescoes from the 14th century cover some of the walls and you can see chapels, relics, and sculptures within the 10,000 square meters of space this complex of museums inhabits. Santa Maria della Scala is located in front of the Siena Cathedral.

Santa Maria della Scala

Have lunch or dinner. There is a small café next to Santa Maria della Scala which is a convenient place to grab a snack. Osteria da Divo is a great restaurant a few blocks from the Siena Cathedral that serves lunch and dinner in a very cool cave-like setting. We had dinner here and highly recommend it.

Osteria da Divo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Siena Cathedral worth it?

With its unique black and white marble walls, ornate mosaic floor, sculptures by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and spectacular viewpoints over Siena, the Siena Cathedral is one of the most interesting cathedrals to visit in Italy. Its appearance is so unique and so beautiful that it even leaves quite an impression on children (our kids were amazed with this cathedral) so it is well worth it for all ages.

How much time do you need to visit the Siena Cathedral?

If you want to visit the cathedral and the associated sites, such as the crypt, baptistery, library, museum, New Cathedral, and the Gate of Heaven, you need 2.5 to 3 hours. Tickets to the Siena Cathedral are valid for 3 days so you have plenty of time to visit all of the sites on the ticket.

How much does it cost to visit the Siena Cathedral?

The cheapest ticket costs €7 (€10 when the floor is uncovered), but this just gets you into the cathedral and Piccolomini Library. For €18, you can add on the crypt, baptistery, museum, and the Panorama of the New Cathedral. €23 includes the Gates of Heaven experience, where you walk on the balconies on the upper level of the Siena Cathedral and get a bird’s eye view of nave. It is well worth the extra money.

Do you need a ticket to enter the Siena Cathedral?

Yes, you need a ticket to enter the Siena Cathedral. You cannot visit the Siena Cathedral for free. The cost is €7 (€10 when the floor is uncovered), which allows you to visit the interior of the cathedral and the Piccolomini Library.

The ceiling of the Siena Cathedral

More Information for Your Trip to Tuscany

SIENA: Plan your visit to Siena with our articles Best Things to Do in Siena and One Perfect Day in Siena.

FLORENCE: For a list of things to do, take a look at our Florence Bucket List. We also have information about how to visit the Florence Cathedral, about the best rooftop bars in Florence, and the best viewpoints in Florence.

FLORENCE ITINERARIES: Learn how to plan your time with our articles on how to spend One Day in Florence and Two Days in Florence.

DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE: Here are 15 day trips to take from Florence, with practical information on how to plan your day.

TUSCANY: Get started with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Tuscany. Learn how to plan your visit with our Tuscany Itinerary, which has sample itineraries, whether you have 3 days, 5 days, or an entire week in Tuscany.

TUSCAN HILL TOWNS: Check out our detailed guides to Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, San Quirico d’Orcia, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Lucca, Volterra, Arezzo, and Cortona. 

If you have any questions about how to visit the Siena Cathedral, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Italy

BEST OF ITALY: In our guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we list 25 beautiful destinations to consider for your next trip to Italy.

ITALY ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Italy. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice. For those with more time, check out our 14 day Italy itinerary, which covers the highlights of Italy.

VENICE: We cover the top experiences in Venice in our Venice Bucket List. Learn where to get the best views of Venice in our article 12 Beautiful Views of Venice. And to help you plan your time, take a look at our one day in Venice itinerary and two days in Venice itinerary.

CINQUE TERRE: One of the best experiences in the Cinque Terre is to hike between all five towns. If you are traveling on a budget, get our money saving tips for the Cinque Terre.

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide. And tips and tricks for taking great photos in our article How to Take Better Photos while Traveling.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.