Experience Siena through its unique relationship with the Virgin Mary.
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary several times during its colorful history, the people and the city of Siena have a unique relationship with Mary, Mother of God. Signs of their devotion to the Blessed Virgin are countless.
Lead by an expert guide, this tour presents some of them as a way of entering the marvelous and mysterious bond that unites Mary to her city.
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 Virgin Mary
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 her 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 object from which the word cathedral is derived, the cathedra. It is the bishop’s seat, from which the successor to the apostles guides and protects the people entrusted to him.
The Basilica of the Servants of Mary
The Basilica of the Servants of Mary is especially dear to the Sienese. Here, the Order of the Servites is united with the entire city of Siena in the devotion to Mary The church of the Servites was for centuries the second Marian shrine in the city, until 1611 when the new Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano was built.
The building’s exterior is undecorated in response to the new mendicant order\'s call for simplicity of message and form. Inside, the church contains works of great artistic and spiritual value, devoted for the most part to the Virgin Mary. Especially noteworthy are the Bordone Madonna by Coppo di Marcovaldo, The Coronation of the Virgin by Bernardino Fungai, and Our Lady of Mercy by Giovanni di Paolo.
The Order of the Servants of Mary, also simply called “the Servites,” was founded by the Seven Holy Founders. These Florentine youths left their earthly goods and patrician families and withdrew to Mount Senario outside Florence to devote themselves completely to prayer and penitence. Their example was taken up by many, and the model of life practiced by the Servants of Mary began to spread, reaching Siena in 1250.
In 1304 the Servites were recognized by Pope Benedict XI as a mendicant order. From that moment on, the convents of the Servants of Mary multiplied all over Italy and then spread to the whole world.
After their initial desire to live the Hermit life in contemplation and penitence, the Servites devoted themselves to hospitality and service of the poor and sick. They chose to live their life in close contact with the townspeople, seeing to the care of their souls, constantly urging them to conversion, penitence, and devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. Their actions were regarded as a powerful instrument in the fight against the heresies that were unsettling the church at the time.
The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano
The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria in Provenzano was built in the early years of the 17th century as the home for a terra cotta statue of the Virgin Mary. The Medici family in Florence commissioned its construction following the miraculous preservation of the statue during the presence of the Spanish.
The Collegiate Church, today lovingly cared for by the parish community, has become for the people of Siena the second most important place of worship after the Cathedral. The annual July 2nd Palio, one of the two horse races that take place in the Piazza del Campo is dedicated to the Madonna of Provenzano.
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).