Description of the attraction
The complex of Santa Maria della Scala, once one of the largest hospitals in Europe, is located on Via Francigena, directly opposite the majestic Cathedral of Siena. Today this building has been transformed into the most important and largest museum complex in the city, where the most interesting works of art are exhibited.
The former Hospital Santa Maria della Scala was one of the first examples in Europe of an institution entirely dedicated to receiving pilgrims and wanderers, which also provided assistance to the poor and provided shelter to disadvantaged children. Initially, the hospital was managed by members of the religious community at the Cathedral, and later it passed to the municipality of Siena. Thanks to generous donations from the wealthy residents of the city, this institution soon began to play a very important role in the social life of the commune. The administration of the hospital was in charge of many plots of land and various properties throughout the city. He played an equally important role in the cultural life of Siena - many renowned artists worked in this building, including Simone Martini, who painted a large cycle of frescoes on scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti, as well as Sebastiano Conca.
Today the complex of Santa Maria della Scala, some parts of which are under restoration, is one of the most important museum complexes in the city. It consists of several independent museums that span four floors, three of which are open to the public.
The main section of the hospital is called "Pellegrinio" or the Hall of Pilgrims - it is located on the 4th floor and is a huge room, completely painted with frescoes that depict scenes from the history of the hospital itself. The authorship of the frescoes belongs to Domenico di Bartolo, Lorenzo Vecchietta and Priyamo della Quercia. On the same level are the 13th century Church of Santissima Annunziata, which houses a magnificent bronze figurine of the Resurrected Christ by Lorenzo Vecchietta, the Old Sacristy, Palazzo Squarchalupi, Madonna's chapel and Mantel's chapel.
On the third floor of Santa Maria della Scala, there is the so-called Corticella - a small patio in which you can see a medieval hayloft with a real marble fountain Fonte Gaia (a replica of it adorns the main square of Siena, Piazza del Campo) by Jacopo della Quercia. There is also the chapel of St. Catherine and the historical premises in which the Society for the Execution of Godly Admonitions met.
The first floor of the hospital is occupied by the Archaeological Museum, whose collections are displayed along impressive tunnels dug into tuff. In addition, the complex includes the Briganti Library with an extensive photo library, the Children's Art Museum and the Center for Contemporary Art. Also in this real "city within a city" exhibitions, congresses and various cultural events are regularly held.
