Pinacoteca Nazionale, Art museum in central Siena, Italy
The Pinacoteca Nazionale is an art museum in Siena housed across two medieval buildings: the Palazzo Brigidi and Palazzo Buonsignori, each featuring spacious rooms with decorated ceilings and detailed stonework. The museum holds an extensive collection of paintings from central Italy spanning the 13th through 18th centuries.
The museum opened in 1932 within the Palazzo Bichi-Buonsignori, a 15th-century building that retains its original architectural features. Over time, the collection expanded and additional spaces were added to display a growing number of works.
The collection showcases paintings from the Sienese school with their distinctive gold backgrounds, reflecting the artistic heritage of this Tuscan city. Visitors can trace how local artists developed their own style over centuries, separate from Florence's influence.
Both buildings are easily accessible on foot in the city center, with clear pathways between rooms and well-marked galleries. It helps to allow time to walk through the different floors and halls, as the collection is extensive.
During restoration work on the Palazzo Bichi-Buonsignori, workers found that the medieval facade was original and had been preserved all along, though many believed it was rebuilt in the 19th century. This discovery helped experts understand the building's true history.
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