Siena. A tale of the city from its origins to the Middle Ages
The path, which develops in the tunnels overlooking the internal road, illustrates, through archaeological materials, documentary sources, and a rich array of photographs and reconstruction tables, the historical development of Siena from the first discoveries in the urban area to the extraordinary flourishing of the communal era and the completed structure of the hospital in the mid-15th century.
The path, which develops in the tunnels overlooking the internal road, illustrates, through archaeological materials, documentary sources, and a rich array of photographs and reconstruction tables, the historical development of Siena from the first discoveries in the urban area to the extraordinary flourishing of the communal era and the completed structure of the hospital in the mid-15th century.
The path, which develops in the tunnels overlooking the internal road, illustrates, through archaeological materials, documentary sources, and a rich array of photographs and reconstruction tables, the historical development of Siena from the first discoveries in the urban area to the extraordinary flourishing of the communal era and the completed structure of the hospital in the mid-15th century. The theme is addressed through four sections, corresponding to as many partitions of the exhibition space, which articulate the development in as many chronological areas, and takes into account the scientific investigations carried out between the late 20th century and the early 2000s in the area of the hospital and Piazza Duomo. The first section is dedicated to the earliest traces of presence in the urban area: among the materials displayed are those from the stratigraphies of Etruscan times, from the excavations at Santa Maria della Scala, with fragments of decorated bucchero, fragments of white on red plates and acrome pottery, probably belonging to a residential building from the mid-7th century B.C. The exhibition continues with the development of the urban area from Hellenistic times and that of the Roman era, with the founding of the Augustan colony. For these periods, the exhibited material also comes from excavations under the hospital. The evolution of the cathedral hill in late antiquity and in the early Middle Ages has been reinterpreted in light of the significant archaeological documentation found in the excavations of the hospital and under the Duomo, reconstructing a historical picture that was previously very incomplete. The communal era is documented by the finds from the Carmine convent and the excavations of the Duomo, while the last section, in the chapel of San Girolamo, illustrates hospital life through the materials from Santa Maria, with particular attention to the finds recovered from the excavation of the aisles of San Galgano and Sant’Ansano. Included in the path are the spaces of the laundry, the chasm of the ‘carnaio’, and the ‘internal road’, a public street incorporated by the hospital. The project, curated by Silvia Pallecchi, Federico Cantini, Marie Ange Causarano, and Beatrice Sordini, is supported by a rich documentary apparatus, consisting of floor plans, reconstructions (entrusted to the Ink link study), and thematic insights, included in touch screen PC.
Events and Exhibitions
Artworks
Jug in archaic maiolica
A medieval archaic majolica jug, bearing the coat of arms of the Opera del Duomo and dating to the second half of the 14th century AD, was found in the refuse pit in the premises of the former oratory of Saints John and Gennaro, during the Cathedral excavations conducted by the University of Siena.
A medieval archaic majolica jug, bearing the coat of arms of the Opera del Duomo and dating to the second half of the 14th century AD, was found in the refuse pit in the premises of the former oratory of Saints John and Gennaro, during the Cathedral excavations conducted by the University of Siena.
Fragment of a Roman-era jar
This fragment of a jar dates back to the Roman period, unearthed during excavations conducted by the University of Siena in the area of the Hospital Santa Maria della Scala. In antiquity, jars were large containers for grain or liquids. The foundation of the Roman colony of Saena Iulia resulted in the birth of an urban nucleus that enjoyed trade connections with the main markets of the Roman world, so the town imported Italic and African cooking and table pottery, Italic, Greek and Spanish wine, Spanish oil and fish preserves. Inside the walls, however, artisanal activities were focused on the production of bricks and the milling of grain.
This fragment of a jar dates back to the Roman period, unearthed during excavations conducted by the University of Siena in the area of the Hospital Santa Maria della Scala. In antiquity, jars were large containers for grain or liquids. The foundation of the Roman colony of Saena Iulia resulted in the birth of an urban nucleus that enjoyed trade connections with the main markets of the Roman world, so the town imported Italic and African cooking and table pottery, Italic, Greek and Spanish wine, Spanish oil and fish preserves. Inside the walls, however, artisanal activities were focused on the production of bricks and the milling of grain.
Hospital ledger
Fragment of the account book, dating back to the 14th century AD, found in the San Galgano ward during the excavations of Santa Maria della Scala conducted by the University of Siena. In the 14th century the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala had become a fully functioning reception and assistance center, equipped with services and spaces intended not only for the needy, but also for the administrative officials and the public officeholders residing there, whether permanently or not. The entire administration of the Hospital was headed by the chamberlain, a figure in office since the 12th century, who was responsible for managing all movements of money and for overseeing the officials in charge of running the hospital's various areas. The chamberlain and the scribe kept the money and compiled the accounting books in the “camera del camerlengo” located on the “piano nobile”, that is, on the Piazza del Duomo floor.
Fragment of the account book, dating back to the 14th century AD, found in the San Galgano ward during the excavations of Santa Maria della Scala conducted by the University of Siena. In the 14th century the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala had become a fully functioning reception and assistance center, equipped with services and spaces intended not only for the needy, but also for the administrative officials and the public officeholders residing there, whether permanently or not. The entire administration of the Hospital was headed by the chamberlain, a figure in office since the 12th century, who was responsible for managing all movements of money and for overseeing the officials in charge of running the hospital's various areas. The chamberlain and the scribe kept the money and compiled the accounting books in the “camera del camerlengo” located on the “piano nobile”, that is, on the Piazza del Duomo floor.
Uncolored ceramic piggy bank
Undecorated ceramic moneybox, dating to the second half of the 14th century AD, found inside the refuse pit of the Rector's house during excavations carried out at Santa Maria della Scala by the University of Siena. In the 14th century, the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala was in a period of full operation providing care and assistance to the needy; it had become a fully organized reception facility, in which residents were admitted and divided into sections according to sex and level of poverty. The female sector consisted of the pilgrims' dormitory, a convent, and a series of rooms and spaces used for raising orphans; the male sector, on the other hand, included two pilgrims' dormitories, the strangers' room, the poor people's room and the prior's room. Various objects, clothing, furniture and household goods were stowed in the “guardarobba”, warehouses located on the level below Piazza del Duomo.
Undecorated ceramic moneybox, dating to the second half of the 14th century AD, found inside the refuse pit of the Rector's house during excavations carried out at Santa Maria della Scala by the University of Siena. In the 14th century, the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala was in a period of full operation providing care and assistance to the needy; it had become a fully organized reception facility, in which residents were admitted and divided into sections according to sex and level of poverty. The female sector consisted of the pilgrims' dormitory, a convent, and a series of rooms and spaces used for raising orphans; the male sector, on the other hand, included two pilgrims' dormitories, the strangers' room, the poor people's room and the prior's room. Various objects, clothing, furniture and household goods were stowed in the “guardarobba”, warehouses located on the level below Piazza del Duomo.
Cooking pot
This olla dates back to the 11th–12th century AD and was found in the excavations of the Duomo area. An olla is a culinary container vessel, sometimes used, as in this case, for cooking food. The action of the heat released by the fire changes the color of the vessel, giving it a characteristic black. In the 11th–12th century the city of Siena experienced a period of demographic, economic and political prosperity, due mainly to the movements along the Via Francigena. The cathedral complex was transformed, becoming enriched with religious, administrative and representative buildings; the Duomo was enlarged and on the other side of the hill what is now the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital was built.
This olla dates back to the 11th–12th century AD and was found in the excavations of the Duomo area. An olla is a culinary container vessel, sometimes used, as in this case, for cooking food. The action of the heat released by the fire changes the color of the vessel, giving it a characteristic black. In the 11th–12th century the city of Siena experienced a period of demographic, economic and political prosperity, due mainly to the movements along the Via Francigena. The cathedral complex was transformed, becoming enriched with religious, administrative and representative buildings; the Duomo was enlarged and on the other side of the hill what is now the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital was built.
Sauceboat
Archaic maiolica sauceboat dating to the 14th century AD, found in the refuse pit of the rooms of the former oratory of Saints John and Gennaro during the cathedral excavations carried out by the University of Siena. Objects like this would also have been common within the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, which in the 14th century became a fully functioning charitable institution, already equipped with numerous spaces for the storage of foodstuffs, for artisanal activities and many rooms for the accommodation of the needy, pilgrims, friars and nuns, servants and families, public officials, administrators and the rector. The entire internal hospital community and those who occasionally asked for alms were guaranteed an adequate diet, mainly borne by the "cucina dei sani". The preparation of food took place under the watchful eye of the castaldo, responsible for coordinating the meal shifts, expenses and the menu according to the liturgical calendar.
Archaic maiolica sauceboat dating to the 14th century AD, found in the refuse pit of the rooms of the former oratory of Saints John and Gennaro during the cathedral excavations carried out by the University of Siena. Objects like this would also have been common within the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, which in the 14th century became a fully functioning charitable institution, already equipped with numerous spaces for the storage of foodstuffs, for artisanal activities and many rooms for the accommodation of the needy, pilgrims, friars and nuns, servants and families, public officials, administrators and the rector. The entire internal hospital community and those who occasionally asked for alms were guaranteed an adequate diet, mainly borne by the "cucina dei sani". The preparation of food took place under the watchful eye of the castaldo, responsible for coordinating the meal shifts, expenses and the menu according to the liturgical calendar.