Is Siena Cathedral Worth It?

Yes, Siena Cathedral is worth it: the black-and-white striped nave, the inlaid marble floor, Pinturicchio’s library and works by Nicola Pisano, Donatello, Michelangelo and Bernini put it among the great churches of Italy, and an hour is enough to see the cathedral itself.

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Allow about two hours for the whole OPA SI PASS route, which the Opera della Metropolitana says is its length. For the most context in the least time, Siena Experience Italian Hub’s 3-Hour Private City Walking Tour with Optional Cathedral gives you a guide of your own, from US$168 a person (checked October 2026).

What to see inside

The nave first, with its columns banded in white and dark green marble, then the floor, uncovered in 2026 until 15 November. Nicola Pisano’s pulpit, carved from 1265 to 1268, is one of the masterpieces of Gothic sculpture. Donatello’s bronze St John the Baptist stands in the chapel named after the saint, and the Piccolomini Altar holds four statues of saints by the young Michelangelo, St Peter and St Paul among them. In the Chapel of the Madonna del Voto are two statues by Bernini, Mary Magdalene and St Jerome. The Piccolomini Library, off the left aisle, is the most colourful room in the building.

Why it was never finished

In 1339 Siena began an enormous new cathedral, meant to outdo Florence’s, in which the present church would have become only the transept. The plague of 1348 killed much of the city and emptied the building site, and by 1357 the new walls were failing and experts advised taking parts of them down. Siena finished the old cathedral instead. The walls of the new one still stand to the right of the facade, and the tallest, the Facciatone, is now a viewpoint reached through the Museo dell’Opera.

How long to spend in Siena

Four hours is enough for the cathedral and the library, a walk down to Piazza del Campo and lunch. A full day lets you add the OPA SI PASS sites, the Museo dell’Opera with Duccio’s Maestà and the Facciatone view. Is Siena nicer than Florence? It is smaller, quieter once the day-trippers leave, and easier to walk; which is nicer depends on whether you came for the Uffizi or for a medieval town.

Who should skip it

If you have only an hour in Siena and no ticket, the queue in season can take a good part of it; book a skip-the-line entry or see Piazza del Campo instead. The Crypt, the Baptistery and the museum are not accessible to wheelchair users, though the cathedral has a ramp on its left side. And once the floor is covered again, from 16 November, it is closed to visitors on Sunday mornings.

Pick the visit that is worth it for you:

Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.

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