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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 

On the occasion of the Siena Sport Experience event, which culminates with the Strade Bianche 2026, on Thursday, March 5 the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex will be open exceptionally from 9:15 PM to midnight.

Museum in motion. Sport, music and tastings

From February 20 to August 30, the former stable of the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex hosts the new reinstallation of the exhibition Metamorphoses of the Sacred by Teodora Axente, featuring a selection of 14 works.

Metamorphoses of the Sacred -  selection of works 

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After the large turnout, the guided tours "Water Routes at Santa Maria della Scala".
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The water routes at Santa Maria della Scala 

After the great success of recent years, on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15, 2026, Letture di Fotografia returns to the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex in Siena, the event entirely dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of contemporary photography, now in its fifth edition.

Photography Readings - 5th edition

During the Letture di fotografia event, in the Italo Calvino hall, the collective photographic exhibition Visioni Condivise, curated by the Siena Foto Club, will be on display.

Photography Readings – Exhibition  SHARED VISIONS

The Giuliano Briganti Library and Phototheque renews its appointment with the DOPPIO SENSO biennial, the collective exhibition of artist's books now in its 4th edition, entitled INK AND COLOR.

DOUBLE MEANING 4. THE INK AND THE COLOR

Sunday, March 15 at 5:30 PM, in the Italo Calvino Hall, the museum dedicates an important event to Gianni Berengo Gardin curated by Fulvio Merlak, Honorary President of FIAF.

Photography Readings - In-depth seminar “Gianni Berengo Gardin the photographer of reality”

On the occasion of the exhibition's closing, on Friday, June 6 we are offering a finissage made up of several moments throughout the day. The artist will be present at the finissage.&nbsp;

Closing of the exhibition “Paper Garden. The thread and the mark: grafts, assemblages, diary-books”

On the occasion of the fifth edition of the Festival Voci Migranti, the Biblioteca e Fototeca Giuliano Briganti hosts from 24 to 31 October&nbsp;the work Oh Good! by the artist Moustapha Cessay, created as part of the project Le Valigie Digitali.

"Oh Good!" by Moustapha Cessay at the Briganti Library

Saturday, 20 September 2025, at 4:30 PM, at the Sala Sant’Ansano, the presentation of the book Fausto Melotti. In Lightness | A Tribute to Italo Calvino, edited by Michelina Eremita and published by Silvana Editoriale, will be held.

 Fausto Melotti. In Lightness | A tribute to Italo Calvino

Thursday, September 18 at 5:30 PM, the Santa Maria della Scala hosts a new event in the #IncontriallaScala series, dedicated to the presentation of the book Museology and Perception. From the contemplation of beauty to the aesthetic experience, written by Domenico Piraina and Maurizio Vanni and published by Pacini Editore.

#IncontriallaScala- Museology and perception. From the contemplation of beauty to the aesthetic experience 

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The Bright-Night 2025 of the University of Siena returns on Friday, September 26 inside the museum complex.
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poster

Bright-Night returns to Santa Maria della Scala. Stands, talks, research walks, guided tours and music

At Santa Maria della Scala, from October 3 to 5, 2025, the fifth edition of Siena Comics For Kids will take place, the comics festival dedicated to children and young people.

Siena Comics For Kids. The comics festival at the museum!

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From 18 to 25 October 2025, the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala is participating in the eleventh edition of the Open Archives Week, the event promoted by Rete Fotografia to highlight and raise awareness of the photographic heritage preserved in Italian archives.
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OPEN ARCHIVES WEEK – 11th edition

Thursday, 30 January 2025 at 6:00 PM, in the Italo Calvino hall, we host the writer Dacia Maraini who presents the book Vita mia. Giappone 1943. Memorie di una bambina italiana in un campo di prigionia (Rizzoli, 2023), in the week in which Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated.&nbsp;

Presentation of the book “Vita mia. Japan 1943. Memories of an Italian girl in a prison camp” by Dacia Maraini

On Wednesday, May 21, in the Italo Calvino hall, architect Luca Molinari will speak with representatives of Odile Decq, Studio LAN and Hannes Peer to present the design competition for the restoration and enhancement of over 18,000 sq m of the Museum Complex. The goal is to strengthen its cultural and educational mission.

Public conversation Santa Maria della Scala and its future with Architect Luca Molinari

In October the museum hosts the workshops of the project Supporting the Horizon and the rehearsals of Regeneration Opera, an AMAT initiative for the training of young musicians. The project involves schools and the museum's workshops, promoting the regeneration of the theatre audience.

At the museum: rehearsals of Regeneration Opera by Amat

On the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day, Wednesday, October 1, the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala organizes the conference Well-being at the museum: examples of good practices from projects for people with Alzheimer's and those who care for them, a moment of reflection and discussion open to cultural and healthcare professionals and the public.

 Well-being at the museum: examples of good practice projects for people with Alzheimer's and those who care for them

From 13 to 16 November the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation presents the second edition of Xenos. Performance festival.

Xenos. Festival of performances - program November 16 

From November 13 to 16 the Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala Foundation presents the second edition of Xenos — a festival of performances.