National Art Gallery of Siena (Pinacoteca Nazionale Siena) Tours and Activities
Siena’s National Art Gallery houses a large collection of paintings from the Sienese School, an artistic movement from the 13th and 15th centuries. Peruse paintings and sculpture from the late Middle Ages through the Renaissance at this museum.
The Basics
Siena’s Pinacoteca Nazionale has been housed in the late Gothic Palazzo Buonsignori since 1932. Its collection includes works from the late medieval through the Renaissance periods, including paintings from members of the Sienese School, among them Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers. In the 1970s, the Spannocchi-Piccolomini Collection was added, which focuses on Northern and Flemish artists such as Durer.
Pair a visit to the museum, near the main Piazza del Campo, with a walking tour of Siena’s historic center, including its magnificent Duomo complex. Siena is a popular stop on day trips to and from Florence and Rome that also stop in Pisa or the medieval villages of San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, and Castellina. Full-day sightseeing itineraries in Tuscany generally include a stop for lunch and wine tasting.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The first two floors covering the Sienese school are accessible to wheelchair users via an elevator; the third floor is not.
- Tours of Siena and the Pinacoteca Nazionale require a fair bit of walking. Choose comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- Photography is not allowed inside the galleries.
How to Get There
The Pinacoteca Nazionale is located inside Palazzo Buonsignori in the heart of Siena’s historic center and can only be reached on foot. Siena is about a 90-minute journey south of Florence by car or train. Join a tour that includes transportation and explore a number of Tuscan villages in one day.
When to Get There
Siena is host to a popular medieval festival in July and August. If you are not interested in seeing the festival's main event, a historic horse race known as Palio di Siena, schedule your tour for a different time of year to avoid the raucous throngs.
Siena’s Famous Medieval Palio
One of the most famous historical celebrations in Italy, the Palio di Siena centers on a bareback horse race held in Piazza del Campo on July 2 and again on August 16 each year. Ten of the city’s 17 contrade, or historical districts, are represented by riders and horses racing along a track encircling the square, urged on by screaming crowds. The race is preceded by pageants, banquets, and solemn Masses.
Address: Via San Pietro, 29, Siena, Tuscany 53100, Italy
Admission: Varies
1 Tours and Activities to Experience National Art Gallery of Siena (Pinacoteca Nazionale Siena)
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Pinacoteca: the Sienese art in the National Museum of Siena
Discover Sienese art, the golden heart of Italian Gothic and vibrant medieval tradition: from the amazing wooden sculpture collection (one of the most important in the world) to the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries icons. Follow the creation of a common European language by chasing the turquoise brushes painted on golden leaves, be amazed by the most extraordinary art production of a pilgrims’ and merchants’ city. On this tour you will admire the full evolution of Sienese art from the beginning of the 13th century, going through the centuries up to the 1600’s.
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From
$118.79
Price varies by group size
From
$118.79
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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