Siena Duomo Floor revealed (August 18 to October 24, 2012)

Giorgio Vasari called the floor of Siena’s Duomo “the most beautiful, big and magnificent that has ever been done.” Normally this floor is covered by carpets to protect it from the footsteps of many visitors, but occasionally it is uncovered, allowing us to get a view of the marble intarsia works of art that tell biblical narratives and represent allegories, and took centuries to complete.

In 2012 the special opening is from August 18 to October 24. Even if you have been to Siena before, you will want to visit again on this occasion. For what to do with the rest of your day, see the Siena itinerary on this blog.

A bit more about the floors: there are 56 large scenes represented by major Sienese artists including Sassetta, Domenico di Bartolo, Matteo di Giovanni, and Domenico Beccafumi, as well as with the intervention of some ‘foreign’ artists like Pinturicchio.

Pinturicchio, Allegoria del Monte della Sapienza

The techniques used progress from graffito to commesso marmoreo. Graffito is the use of the scalpel to carve out areas of white marble which were then filled with black stucco. This evolved to incorporating more colours using a technique similar to wood intarsia, which is called commesso marmoreo (sometimes also pietre dure, but these are softer stones, thus not ‘dure’).

Guidoccio Cozzarelli, Libyan sybil

The nave and side aisles of the cathedral floor are decorated with stories from antiquity, such as the image of Romulus and Remus, symbol of Siena. There are ten sybills represented, and various philosophers.

Matteo di Giovanni, Innocents

The transept and choir narrate old testament stories, all except the Slaughter of the Innocents by Matteo di Giovanni which is based on the recount of the Evangelist St. Matthew.

Domenico Beccafumi, stories of Moses on Mount Sinai

By the time you get under the cuppola, time has gone by and you have works by the Mannerist artist Domenico Beccafumi, with a perfection of the marble intarsia technique to use gradations of material for fine shadows and intricate representation.

Visitor Information

Siena Duomo floor uncovering
August 18 to October 24, 2012
Open daily 10:30 – 19:30, sundays and holidays 9:30 – 18:00
Tickets 6 euro, ticket to whole Duomo complex, 12 euro

*there is a special opening on October 20 from 9pm til midnight with free guided tours (included in price of admission)