Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala

Welcome to Santa Maria della Scala, located directly across from the great Siena Cathedral. This is not just a museum; it is one of the oldest and most significant hospitals in the world. …

To understand Santa Maria della Scala, one must understand its location. Siena sits on Europe's most important medieval pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena. …

The heart of the hospital is the 'Sala del Pellegrinaio,' or the Hall of the Pilgrims. This grand, vaulted hall was once a ward for the sick and a reception area for travelers. …

Integrated into the hospital complex is the Church of the Santissima Annunziata. This sacred space served the spiritual needs of the hospital staff and the patients. …

Descending into the lower levels of Santa Maria della Scala, you enter a completely different world. The complex is built into the hillside, and its foundations reach deep into the Sienese soil. …

One of the most precious treasures within the museum is the collection of original sculptures from the Fonte Gaia, the 'Fountain of Joy.' The fountain was originally designed by Jacopo della Quercia and installed in the Piazza…

Deep within the hospital complex lies a small, intensely spiritual space: the Oratory of Saint Catherine of the Night. Saint Catherine of Siena, the patron saint of Italy, was a frequent visitor to Santa Maria della Scala. …

Our journey through Santa Maria della Scala concludes. We have traversed nearly a thousand years of history, from the ancient Roman foundations to the Renaissance masterpieces of the Hall of the Pilgrims. …