Santo Stefano alla Lizza, Baroque church in Siena, Italy

Santo Stefano alla Lizza is a church in Siena with a distinctive brick facade featuring a central oculus within the tympanum and four vertical pilasters. An elevated entrance is accessed by a flight of stairs.

The church was first documented in the 12th century as a Romanesque structure before undergoing complete rebuilding between 1671 and 1675 in Baroque style. This renovation dramatically changed its architectural appearance.

The church is deconsecrated and now used as an auditorium for concerts by Italian Opera Siena. Its name comes from the adjacent Piazza della Lizza, laid out in 1779 by Antonio Matteucci as a public promenade and garden, enlarged and embellished in 1872. The altarpiece was a polyptych by Andrea Vanni with a predella by Giovanni di Paolo, now kept in the Baptistery of Siena.

The building now serves as a venue for meetings and concerts and can be reserved for such events. Visitors should contact in advance to check availability and current opening times.

The adjacent Piazza della Lizza served as a venue for tournaments and equestrian exercises in the late 16th century. This martial past of the square reveals the changing roles this space has played throughout history.