Si avvisano i visitatori che dal&nbsp;&nbsp;15 marzo 2025 &nbsp;il museo&nbsp; sar&agrave; aperto&nbsp;tutti i giorni dalle ore 10.00 alle 19.00.&nbsp;
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particolare affresco pellegrinaio

Notice to visitors – museum hours

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With a donation contract signed on 28 May 1359 in Venice, the hospital purchased from the Florentine merchant Pietro di Giunta Torrigiani a precious collection of relics and reliquaries.
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#Storiedalmuseo - Did you know that an ancient reliquary is on display at Santa Maria della Scala?

Four ancient inscriptions are embedded on the facade of Santa Maria della Scala that recount a significant part of the centuries-old Sienese institution.&nbsp;

#Storiedalmuseo- The story of the 4 ancient inscriptions

Any charitable donation in support of the activities of the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala can be made under the&nbsp;Art Bonus, a tax instrument that allows you to benefit from a tax credit equal to 65% of the donated amount.

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Fresco

fresco

The Pellegrinaio

Pilgrims' Hall 

Level IV

The fresco in the Pellegrinaio hall, depicting the Story of Sorore, now hangs on the left above the side door that leads to the aisles of Sant'Ansano and San Galgano.&nbsp;

The story of Sorore

particolare "l'accrescere di muraglie"

The fresco in the third bay of the pilgrims' hall shows a construction site associated with the hospital, with an octagonal building in the background and a portico where some workers are engaged in the work.

The growth of walls

particolare dell'affresco "consegna l'abito al rettore"

The fresco by Priamo della Quercia located in the Pellegrinaio hall, in the fourth bay on the right, depicts the Blessed Agostino Novello presenting the Augustinian habit to the Rector. Among the figures, the emperor John VIII Palaiologos can be recognized.

Agostino Novello hands the robe to the rector

The fresco in the fifth bay on the right, located in the Pellegrinaio hall, depicts Eugene IV handing a parchment to Carlo d'Agnolino Bartoli. In the background, Eastern and African figures can be seen.

The Pope grants the indulgence

The fresco located in the fifth bay on the left, by Domenico di Bartolo, depicts a medieval hospital with doctors, friars and nurses, detailing hospital life in 1378.

Care of the sick

The fresco located in the fourth bay on the left of the pilgrim hall depicts a historical scene in a hospital, highlighting the weekly distribution of bread to the poor, with figures of pilgrims, the sick and nobles such as Sigismondo.

The Alms

The "marrying-off of the maidens" is located in the fourth bay of the Pellegrinaio. This bay depicts a significant scene that illustrates one of the hospital's charitable functions, related to the marriage of poor young women, a practice that fell within the welfare and social support activities of the medieval hospital.

The marriage of the maidens

The alms of the small courtyard are located in the third bay of the Pilgrims' Hall. This bay is one of the most significant, as it hosts scenes related to hospitality and the care of pilgrims, including the distribution of alms, in a context that reflects the charitable and care practices of the medieval hospital.

The Alms of the Little Courtyard

marble

sculpture

National Archaeological Museum

head of Pseudo Seneca

Levels I and II

In 1930 in Siena a sculptural head was found, initially mistaken for Seneca. Several theories suggest that it represents Greek poets, such as Hesiod, and dates back to the 1st century A.D.

head of the so-called Pseudo-Seneca

il soffitto

The decoration of the ceiling of the Pellegrinaio hall, executed between 1439 and 1441 by Agostino di Marsiglio in the five bays and in the four connecting sub-arches, depicts saints and figures, with coats of arms and vegetal motifs.

The ceiling of the pilgrims' hostel

Cinerary  urn 

Urna di Larth Sentinate Cumere

The urn, belonging to the family tomb of the Sentinate Cumere, shows the deceased semi-reclining on the kline. On the casket is depicted the recognition between the two siblings, children of Agamemnon, Iphigenia and Orestes in Tauris.

Urn of Larth Sentinate Cumere

urn of the Sentinate Cumere family

The urn, belonging to the tomb of the Sentinate Cumere, bears on its casket a recumbent male; on the casket a scene is depicted that has been variously interpreted: the traditional reading of the two warriors supported by companions as a depiction of the dying Eteocles and Polynices has been called into question by the presence of the lightning bolt.

Urn of the tomb of the Sentinate Cumere

The Old Sacristy 

In 1444, Domenico di Bartolo painted the Madonna of Mercy in the Chapel of the Relics, which later became a place of veneration. In 1610, the fresco was moved to the Old Sacristy. During the 1969 restoration, preparatory sketches and hidden side panels were discovered.

Madonna of the Mantle

Gilded silver

The Reliquary is a liturgical object of great artistic and religious value. It features relief scenes of the Resurrection and the Crucifixion.

Reliquary

bucchero

ceramics

heavy bucchero amphora

The amphora, of reddish-brown coloration ('bucchero rosso'), comes from a tomb discovered in the locality of Querce al Pino in Chiusi. The body of the vessel is decorated with a stamped band with sphinxes leaning to the left; on the shoulder there are ridges with hanging droplet motifs. On the rim, opposite the handles, are modeled female heads. The tomb's grave goods also included another similar amphora and two hydriae.

Bucchero amphora 'heavy'

Silver and enamels

The reliquary of the Holy Nail is a work of great historical and artistic value, connected to one of the most important objects of devotion in the Christian tradition.

Reliquary of the Holy Nail

The Fonte Gaia

Level III

Original fragment by Jacopo della Quercia representing Hope, detail of the Fonte Gaia.

Hope, Fonte Gaia

The marble sculpture depicts Acca Larentia, created by Jacopo della Quercia, for the Fonte Gaia.

Acca Larentia, Fonte Gaia

rea silvia

The marble sculpture depicts Rea Silvia, created for the Fonte Gaia by Jacopo della Quercia.

Rea Silvia, Gaia Fountain

Chalk

The sculpture created by Tito Sarrocchi represents temperance, it is a plaster replica taken from the model by Jacopo della Quercia for the Fonte Gaia.

Temperance, Fonte Gaia 

From 30 May to 27 September 2026 the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala presents the exhibition Santa Maria della Scala. Architecture, projects and visions. An exhibition curated by Luca Molinari.

Santa Maria della Scala. Architecture, projects and visions. An exhibition curated by Luca Molinari 

On the occasion of the European Night of Museums, on Saturday, May 23, Santa Maria della Scala will be exceptionally open in the evening as well, until midnight (last admission at 11:15 PM), offering the public a special opportunity to experience the museum in an unusual and evocative setting.

A night at Santa Maria della Scala… the museum comes to life!

On Sunday, December 15th at 5:00 PM, in the Italo Calvino room, the documentary film Mario Verdone: the traveling critic, by Luca Verdone, will be screened.

Documentary film MARIO VERDONE: THE CRITICAL TRAVELER

On December 11 and 12, 2024, as part of the celebrations organized by the Tuscany Region for the 450th anniversary of the death of Cosimo I de' Medici, the conference "Siena, Florence and Cosimo I de' Medici" will take place in the Sant'Ansano hall.

Celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the death of Cosimo I de' Medici. Study conference: "Siena, Florence, and Cosimo I de' Medici"

On Thursday, November 28, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, a commemorative event will be held to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the official birth of Surrealism (Manifeste du Surréalisme, André Breton 1924) with a tribute to a great master of the 20th century, Fabrizio Clerici (Milan 1913-Rome 1993), a fine intellectual, graduated in architecture, and an eclectic artist, active as an illustrator, engraver, painter, set designer, and costume designer.

FABRIZIO CLERICI IN THE PRINTS OF THE BRIGANTI LIBRARY. 'Signs' of friendship in the centenary of Surrealism

From May 17th to 25th, the exhibition A ritrovar la Diana at the Magazzini della Corticella raises awareness among young people about water issues and Siena's water-related heritage, with works created by students. The initiative is part of the "Siena and Water" project.

percorsi dell'acqua

A ritrovar la Diana

From May 6 to May 18, 2025, the Santa Maria della Scala will host the exhibition WE, YOU, THE OTHERS. Together along the paths of art, curated by the Cooperativa Riuscita Sociale and the Caselli Institute of Education.&nbsp;

WE, YOU, THE OTHERS. Together along the paths of art

Giornata Internazionale delle Donne

The International Women's Day at Santa Maria della Scala

Paper Garden. The thread and the sign: assemblages, grafts, and diary-books

On Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16, 2025, the initiative "Letture di Fotografia" returns to Santa Maria della Scala, created by the Siena Foto Club (SFC) in collaboration with the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation. This two-day event, now in its fourth edition, is entirely dedicated to the promotion and knowledge of photography.

“Photography readings” IV edition

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, Santa Maria della Scala will be open for free from 7 PM to midnight for the European Night of Museums. Visitors can explore the museum and enjoy a pink gin and tonic in honor of the Giro d’Italia.

European Night of Museums at the Santa Maria della Scala

The volume retraces the history of the coin collection of the National Archaeological Museum, highlighting its main sources and the find contexts within the Siena area.

Presentation of the Volume "The Collection of Etruscan Coins at the National Archaeological Museum of Siena"

The exhibition explores Italian art between the two world wars and the early '60s, featuring works by great masters and Sienese artists, offering new perspectives on the collecting practices of the time.

Costellazione -mostre

CONSTELLATIONS. Italian Art 1915 – 1960. From the collections of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena and Cesare Brandi

On the occasion of Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, all mothers along with their children will enter the museum free of charge.

Mother's Day at the Museum

The Santa Maria della Scala museum complex will take part in the European Archaeology Days from June 13 to 15.

European Archaeology Days

As every year, the National Archaeological Museum takes part in the Nights of Archaeology, promoted by the Tuscany Region, with free night openings, educational activities, and guided tours.

Nights of Archaeology – Tuesday, July 15

From July 9 to September 14, 2025, Santa Maria della Scala presents, in the rooms of the former Refectory and the spaces of the Magazzini della Corticella, the NoiSe&gt;

NoiSe><Derive

The guided tours titled “Water Paths at Santa Maria della Scala” return to the Museum.&nbsp;

Exploring the water pathways within the museum

Wednesday, July 30, on the occasion of International Friendship Day, Santa Maria della Scala offers a free guided tour to visitors who come with friends, at 5:00 PM.&nbsp;

Bring a Friend to the Museum!

From May 22 to September 30, 2025, the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation presents the exhibition Jacob Hashimoto. Path to the Sky, curated by Raphaëlle Blanga, an expert in modern and contemporary art.