Siena Guided Tour with Cathedral and Optional Crypt and Museum

Siena Guided Tour with Cathedral and Optional Crypt and Museum

Discover the highlights of Siena on a walking tour and enjoy skip-the-line tickets for the Cathedral Complex. Choose to see the Crypt and the Museum with OPA SI Pass on an extended tour.

Meet your guide and small group tour in Siena Center to start exploring this medieval gem of a city. Catch quiet moments in tucked-away squares and cobbled streets as you stroll through Siena’s winding and well-preserved medieval neighborhoods. Learn the history behind the renowned Palio horse race from your expert guide. See the Old Ghetto, the Tower District, and take panoramic views from one of the city’s highest points. 

Walk down a winding path that offers glimpses of the Duomo (or Cathedral) and Torre del Mangia from afar. Stop for a lingering first glance of Siena’s famous skyline before continuing towards Piazza Del Campo. Discover how this seashell-shaped square (a UNESCO World Heritage Site often called one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy) resulted from an enlightened, 14th-century government.

Siena is a city with strong traditions, the most notable being its Palio horse race, which has divided Siena for centuries into unique neighborhoods called “Contrada.” As you stroll through the contrada, which are almost like independent towns, imagine how they brazenly challenge each other during the Palio, which is held twice a year. Walk through one of the most typical Contrada and immerse yourself in Siena’s authenticity.  Ask your guide where to find typical Ricciarelli or Panforte sweets before moving on to the second part of the tour.

See the magnificent Fonte Gaia fountain which adorns the higher part of Piazza del Campo. Take a break as your guide points out decorated reliefs of The Creation of Adam and The Flight from the Garden of Eden.

Our pre-booked tickets make entering the stunning Cathedral a breeze, and our small groups or private tours offer each of our guests a more personalized, intimate experience.

Use your priority access tickets to enter the Cathedral and enjoy a tour of the magnificent marble mosaic inlay floor and the astonishing decorations by the Tuscan artists. Explore the medieval masterpieces by Duccio and Pisano and admire the stained glass sparkling in the sun. The Cathedral houses many Renaissance highlights: several Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini sculptures and the frescoes by Pinturicchio in the Libreria Piccolomini, where a first-time painter took the first steps before the imminent fame Raphael.

Please notice that the floor mosaics are completely uncovered from 27th June until 31st of July, and from 18th August until 16th October. The rest of the year the floor is partially covered.

Enhance your experience with the extended tour if you want a more profound knowledge of the cathedral’s complex. After a tour inside the Duomo with your knowledgeable guide, continue your adventure at the enchanting Crypt, a true medieval gem. 

Marvel at the frescoes illustrating biblical episodes that had remained hidden for five hundred years, making the Crypt an authentic time capsule. Admire the vibrant colors, the level of detail, and the beauty of mural paintings, which, with their exceptional preservation state, will allow you to have an authentic glimpse of how a medieval church looked. 

Once outside, you’ll discover the intriguing tale of the unfinished Duomo Nuovo, a visionary project intended to build the largest medieval cathedral in Europe. Visit the Museo dell’Opera and marvel at the original cathedral sculptures by Donatello and Giovanni Pisano, as well as the original stained glass window by Duccio di Buonisegna. Delve into this artist’s production by looking at the Maestà, and learn about the unique iconography and storytelling of one of the greatest medieval altarpieces. 

After the guided portion of the tour in the Museo dell’Opera, say goodbye to your guide and seize the opportunity to climb the unfinished façade of the New Cathedral, known as the Facciatone, at your own pace. From the top of the Facciatone, enjoy an unparalleled panorama of Siena and its unique countryside, the perfect way to conclude your tour.