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.
Location: Siena
Inception: 1932
Official opening: 1932
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 08:15-19:15; Monday, Sunday, Holidays 09:00-13:00; January 1 off; December 25 off
Phone: +390577286143
Email: pm-tos.pinacoteca-si@beniculturali.it
Website: http://pinacotecanazionale.siena.it
GPS coordinates: 43.31562,11.33052
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:40
Siena is a Tuscan city built on three hills, where medieval streets wind between brick buildings and open onto piazzas. The shell-shaped Piazza del Campo hosts the Palio horse race twice a year and serves as the town's main gathering place. The Cathedral, with its black-and-white marble facade, stands on one of the highest points. From the top of Torre del Mangia, the city spreads out in all directions, with its terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills visible. Gothic and Renaissance architecture appears throughout the streets, in the form of palaces, churches, fountains and loggias. The Palazzo Pubblico contains frescoes and civic art, while the Pinacoteca Nazionale displays paintings from the Sienese School. The Biblioteca Piccolomini holds illuminated manuscripts. The Basilica of San Domenico rises on a hill, offering views across the rooftops. The Fortezza Medicea and the university botanical garden provide additional perspectives on the city and its landscape. Beyond the center, the Etruscan necropolis at Malignano, Villa di Geggiano with its gardens, and the Chianti sculpture park add to the range of places to explore.
Siena Cathedral
263 m
Santa Maria della Scala
197 m
Palazzo Chigi-Saracini
165 m
Sant'Agostino
149 m
Palazzo delle papesse, centro arte contemporanea
153 m
Palazzo Reale
188 m
San Pietro alle Scale
34 m
Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
181 m
Museo di storia naturale dell'Accademia dei Fisiocritici
158 m
Palazzo Buonsignori
11 m
Palazzo Chigi alla Postierla
114 m
San Giuseppe
122 m
Accademia dei Fisiocritici
161 m
Oratory of Sant'Antonio da Padova
128 m
San Giovanni Battista (Siena)
137 m
Santa Mustiola (Siena)
163 m
Palazzo Bisdomini
106 m
Palazzo Venturi Gallerani, Siena
94 m
Palazzo Pannilini
74 m
Palazzo Bambagini Galletti
182 m
Torre dei Forteguerri
97 m
Madonna del Corvo
125 m
Palazzo Marsili-Libelli
118 m
Palazzo Marsili
146 m
Academy of Fisiocritici Library
160 m
Palazzo Bardi alla Postierla
100 m
Scheletro della balena
173 m
Aula Magna
171 mReviews
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