Palazzo delle papesse, centro arte contemporanea
Palazzo delle papesse, centro arte contemporanea, Renaissance palace and contemporary art center in Siena, Italy.
The palace features a stone facade with rustic ashlar on the ground floor and two orders of biforate windows on the upper levels.
The construction started in 1460 by Caterina Piccolomini, sister of Pope Pius II, following designs by architect Bernardo Rossellino and completed around 1495.
The building housed numerous contemporary art exhibitions between 1998 and 2008, contributing to the artistic development of the Tuscany region.
The palace stands in Via di Città, offering visitors access to its inner courtyard with sculptures by Lorenzo di Mariano from 1509.
From the palace roof terrace, Galileo Galilei conducted lunar observations during his stay as a guest of Archbishop Ascanio II Piccolomini in 1633.
Location: Siena
Architects: Bernardo Rossellino
Phone: +39057722071
Email: info@papesse.org
GPS coordinates: 43.31700,11.33060
Latest update: March 4, 2025 16:19
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
167 m
Piazza del Campo
170 m
Palazzo Pubblico
156 m
Siena Cathedral
158 m
Piccolomini Library
165 m
Fonte Gaia
190 m
Siena Cathedral Pulpit
149 m
Battistero di San Giovanni
161 m
Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo
100 m
Cathedral - Crypt
144 m
Palazzo Chigi-Saracini
26 m
Campanile of the Cathedral of Siena
140 m
Palazzo Reale
98 m
Palazzo del Magnifico
145 m
Palazzo Patrizi
73 m
Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
98 m
Palazzo Chigi alla Postierla
103 m
Opera delle Metropolitana
108 m
Palazzo Bindi Sergardi
167 m
San Giovanni Battista (Siena)
39 m
Torre delle Sette Seghinelle
156 m
Torre dei Forteguerri
94 m
San Niccolò in Sasso
94 m
Palazzo Marsili-Libelli
46 m
Palazzo Marsili
30 m
Piccolomini Library
177 m
Palazzo Bardi alla Postierla
88 m
Basilica Sotterranea (Cripta del Duomo)
144 mReviews
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