Siena Cathedral might not be among the biggest of the many magnificient cathedrals in Italy, but the overwhelmingly ornate façade and stunning interior more than compensate for any lack of scale. The facade is a spectacular and intricate display in white and pink marble of myriads of sculptures of patriarchs, allegorical figures and biblical scenes, mythical animals and acanthus scrolls; all masterfully arranged and held together by the upward pointing geometrical design; a rising trinity of triangles and circles visually leading you to new heights. The Duomo di Siena dates from the thirteenth century and it is one of the most outstanding examples of a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in Italy. It is situated on the highest of three hills in Siena, near the oldest part of the town called Castelvecchio. While the façade is mostly white and pink with dark green bands, the exterior sides, belltower and interior are clad with white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, a powerful design giving the impression of both lightness and heaviness, of rising and falling. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:29:53 +0000
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