Enjoy a guided tour that takes you to three ancient Tuscan cities and their stunning cathedrals: the gleaming Gothic cathedral Santa Maria Assunta in Siena, imposing SS. Marziale and Alberto in picturesque Colle Val d'Elsa, and SS. Salvatore in Montalcino with its panorama of the Sienese hills and the volcanic mountains of Amiata.
A visit to these three Tuscan jewels is an opportunity to discover the territory that is their home - rich in art, culture, natural beauty, and excellent food and wine.
Info & Booking
Private guided visit for groups up to 20 people.
Departure: San Domenico Church, meeting point with the guide by the totem
Timing:
- From March 17th to October 15th:from 10.00a.m. to 12.00a.m. and from 3.00p.m. to 5.00p.m. (last visit at 4.00p.m.)
- From October 16th to March 16th: from 10.00a.m. to 12.00a.m. ( last tour at 11.00a.m.)
Tour includes entrance tickets to the places to be visited, that will be picked up by the guide at the moment of the entrance to each museum at OPAticket office.
Available in Italian, English, French, German ad Spanish; upon reservation, also in Portuguese, Japanese and Hungarian.
Reservation must be made at least 10 days before.
Save time in ordering! Add into your basket all the museum tickets you want, then fill the form and send the request.
Before making your eservation, please, read the Ordering Informations
IMPORTANT NOTICE: After succesfully completing a reservation, you will receive two e- mails: the copy of your order (immediately after submitting your order) and the confirmation mail (one working day after). In order to receive them, please make sure you insert your e-mail address correctly and check that your anti-spam filter or antivirus are not blocking mails from our address [email protected]. Special attention for AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net mailbox users. Vouchers will also be available, aftre one business day from the request, at the page http://www.weekendinitaly.com/get_vouchers2.php
PLEASE NOTICE: Confirmed time is not always the same time you requested; museum automatically confirms the closest available time (any time) on the same date if requested time is sold out.
Cancellations and changes:
Once a visit is confirmed, it can be canceledup to 7 days before and refunded cost of tickets and guide (not the reservation fee); later cancellations and no shows are no refundable.
HOW TO REACH SIENA:
BUS LINE FLORENCE - SIENA (SITA): Click here for information regarding this line
From North: A1 Highway - exit Firenze Certosa; then, Superstrada Firenze Siena - exit Siena Porta San Marco. Follow indications to Il Fagiolone Parking, Strada di Pescaia, to make the checkpoint and continue until Porta San Marco, where passengers will be able to make the visit of Siena.
From South: A1 Highway - exit Bettolle, then, Raccordo Autostradale Bettolle Siena - entrance Siena West Ring Road - exit Siena Porta San Marco
Before You Book
PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive two email. The first email contains your order summary (this one you receive immediately after placing your order), the second email confirms your successful payment (one business day after placing the order). In order to receive these two emails, please make sure that you enter your email address correctly and check that antispam or antivirus filters do not block emails from our [email protected] address. Users of AOL, Comcast and Sbcglobal.net need to pay special attention to this, please. Vouchers will also be available, one business day after the request, at your dashboard.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The time you select on the order form is your preferred time. The closest available time, which can be anytime during opening hours on the selected date, will be automatically confirmed if your preferred time is no longer available.
The way of the Cathedrals
SIENA: The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
“Remember to enter with devotion into this most devout temple of worship for the Virgin”
Carved into the pavement of the cathedral at the entrance to the central nave, these words are addressed to anyone entering this splendid cathedral. Crossing its threshold is not simply a physical passage but can be the beginning of a spiritual journey. More than just a remarkable setting for art, it is said to be a dwelling place (domus) for God and His people. The facade, with its profusion of marble sculptures, announces the unique space. Here, you will see the predictions of the prophets carved on the scrolls displayed by the beautiful statues by Giovanni Pisano.
As soon as you are in the cathedral the splendid round stained-glass window set at the top of the apse catches your eye. It shows the Assumption of Our Lady and the goal of the human journey, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Below the window, the gold background of the painting on the high altar attracts the eye. Known as the Maestà, it presents the Virgin enthroned in majesty, serving in turn as a throne for the Christ Child, surrounded by the heavenly court of angels and Saints.
The human journey is illustrated in the remarkable inlaid marble pavement. Starting from ancient knowledge represented by the philosopher Hermes Trismegistus and the Sibyls, we come to episodes from the Old Testament, and finally reach the figures who most anticipated Christ, the prophet Elijah, King David, and Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac.
To the left of the chancel is the superb pulpit which recounts the life of Christ up to his death and resurrection and the Last Judgment.
On the left of the splendid marble altar is the cathedra from which the word “cathedral” is derived. “Cathedra” isthe bishop’s seat, from where the bishop exercises his prerogatives of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the people.
COLLE VAL D\'ELSA: the co-cathedral of SS. Marziale and Alberto
The highest part of Colle di Val d’Elsa is crowned with the city’s co-cathedral SS. Marziale and Alberto.
The majestic church is dedicated to the Saints Albert, Martial, Faustinus and Jovita.
Martial was the founder of the local Christian community, as tradition tells us that he celebrated the first baptisms in the Elsa river.
Faustinus and Jovita were two 2nd century martyrs who took refuge on the Piticciano hill during the persecutions of the Christians in Rome. There, the ancient, no longer extant baptismal church called the Pieve a Elsa was dedicated to them.
Very early on, the Christian community of Colle di Val d’Elsa broke free of the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Volterra. From then on it was dependent only on the Pope, until it was erected as a diocese in 1592. In 1986 the diocese was absorbed into the Archdiocese of Siena/Colle di Val d’Elsa/Montalcino, turning the basilica into co-cathedral.
The basilica is the seat of identity of the people of Colle, who venerate here the Holy Nail which is said to have pierced the left foot of Christ on the cross. Devotion to this relic is linked with the archpriest Saint Alberto of Chiatina (12th century), who reawakened devotion to it in the townspeople.
MONTALCINO: The co-cathedral of the SS. Salvatore
The co-cathedral of Santissimo Salvatore rises imposingly on the highest point of the old town of Montalcino. Climbing the wide stairs of Costa Spagni is an experience meant to reflect the spiritual journey towards the spot where Heaven and Earth meet.
Even today this monumental building is the seat of the Montalcino town identity and the place where the most important moments of faith are celebrated. Here stands the throne (cathedra) of the bishop. From the Middle Ages the church of the Santissimo Salvatore was one of the most important in the territory, so much so that Pope Pius II granted it the status of cathedral in 1462.
The cathedral\'s current neoclassical appearance is due to rebuilding in the nineteenth century, directed by one of the most important architects in Siena at the time, Agostino Fantastici.
Inside, besides the monumental high altar you can admire the painting of The Immaculate Conception by Francesco Vanni, a late 16th century masterpiece. Remarkable are also the chapel of the baptismal font, containing the Romanesque remnants of the ancient medieval church.
Cancellation Policy
Once a confirmation code has been assigned to your reservation, we can refund the cost of unused tickets, also for no-shows, minus a service fee (reservation fee and online booking fee).