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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 

Lunedì 14 settembre, la Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala organizza la giornata di formazione e workshop "Musei accessibili: autismi, arte e archeologia", un momento di confronto sui temi dell'accessibilità museale e del welfare culturale rivolto a educatori museali, educatori specializzati nell'autismo e associazioni del territorio, per condividere esperienze e strumenti utili alla progettazione di percorsi museali accessibili.

“Musei accessibili: autismi, arte e archeologia”

A series of special tours, promoted by the Fondazione Antico Ospedale Santa Maria della Scala and the Municipality of Siena, opening to the public for the first time the 18,000 square metres of the museum complex previously inaccessible.

special tour "A porte chiuse. Dentro il Santa Maria della Scala"

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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 the Santa Maria della Scala 

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From 13 September to 15 November 2026, the exhibition Remember Joseph Beuys will be open to visitors at the Magazzini della Corticella. The exhibition project is dedicated to Joseph Beuys (Krefeld, 1921 – Düsseldorf, 1986), one of the most radical and influential figures in art of the second half of the twentieth century.
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Remember Joseph Beuys

Il 4 e 5 settembre al Santa Maria della Scala si svolgeranno due giornate dedicate al&nbsp;welfare culturale&nbsp;e all'offerta educativa&nbsp;dei&nbsp;musei senesi e toscani&nbsp;per l'anno scolastico 2026/2027.

dida day

Edu Didaday - Musei Toscani

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Anche quest’anno il Santa Maria della Scala aderisce alle Notti dell’Archeologia con un programma ricco di appuntamenti per grandi e bambini.
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Notti dell'Archeologia 2026 

From March to December 2026 the Santa Maria della Scala hosts several events of the third edition of BODY SPEAKING – Your body speaks, a participatory art project that brings contemporary dance, live music and cultural heritage into dialogue

BODY SPEAKING 2026 – Your body speaks

In occasione delle GEA 2026, seguendo le indicazioni contenutistiche degli Organizzatori, il Museo Archeologico Nazionale e il Santa Maria della Scala presentano al pubblico:&nbsp; &ldquo;Nel giardino di Dioniso. Visioni dalla Collezione Torlonia&nbsp;Fotografie dal Fondo Eduard A. Safarik - Fototeca Giuliano Briganti&rdquo;.

In the garden of Dionysus. Visions from the Torlonia Collection Photographs from the Eduard A. Safarik Fund - Giuliano Briganti Photographic Archive

From 12 June to 30 July 2026, the Magazzini della Corticella of Santa Maria della Scala host the exhibition “Nel blu dipinto di blu. Tribute to the ceramics of Valter Boj (1959-2022)”, curated by Carlo Pizzichini.

In the blue painted blue. A tribute to the ceramics of Valter Boj (1959-2022)

Friday, June 5, the Giuliano Briganti Library and Phototheque hosts the fourth edition of Pagine d'artista, the exhibition dedicated to artists' books and book-objects created by the students of the 'Duccio di Buoninsegna' Art High School of Siena as part of the School-Work Training projects.

Poetic matter about Wisława Szymborska. Artist's pages

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!

Every first Sunday of the month, Santa Maria della Scala opens free of charge to the public. An opportunity to visit the museum complex and the National Archaeological Museum.

Sunday at the Santa Maria della Scala 

On Friday, May 23, the Briganti Library hosts Policromia, an international festival dedicated to poetry and the art of translation, now in its fourth edition.

Policromia: the international festival of poetry and translation 

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 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;