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Chapels in Siena

By Corbet Ballusci

| August 26th 2012 | Views:

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Siena is a small city in Tuscany and is often referred as ‘the manageable Florence.’ Siena is home to some famous aspects – the art, the architecture, the history and the food with high traffic, heavy tourism and souvenir stands in every corner. In the middle ages Siena was a busting economic centre based on textiles, saffron and wine. In 14th century it became home to St. Catherine, a politically active and outspoken Dominic who experienced a ‘mystic Marriage’ with Christ and was the first women to be named doctor of church. Catholic pilgrims to Siena pray at the shrine of St Catherine and receive mass in the Duomo. All visitors feel indulged in art and architecture of city and the imposing church of San Domenico.

Shrine of St Catherine

St Catherine was a lay-affiliate of the Dominican order famed for her intellect and mystical visions of Jesus. Her house and shrine are in the hometown of Siena.

The shrine of St Catherine occupies her family home where she was born and where she lived her austere life as Dominican Affiliate. The house has been adapted and is now a series of chapel dedicated to beloved saint. The monumental marble and courtyard dates up to 15th and 16th century.

San Dumenico

This is a vast brick church in Siena that was founded in 1125 by Dominicans as a party of their fairy. San Dominico is closely associated with St Catherine of Siena and her head is contained in a reliquary here.

The raised chapel of the west end preserves the only genuine painting of St Catherine, painted by her friend and contemporary Andrea Vanni.

Halfway down the right wall was frescoed with scenes from Saint’s life.

The raised chapel off the west end (to the right as you enter) preserves the only genuine Portrait of St. Catherine, painted by her friend and contemporary Andrea Vanni. All except the right wall are frescoed by Sodoma in 1526. These include large work on the left wall of her interceding on behalf of a condemned man and other scenes of her ecstacy and swooning are Sodoma’s best work. This Chapel enshrines St Catherine’s finger and head. This shrine is down the hill in her family home and rest of her body is in Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.

At the end of the nave, on the right there is a Nativity by Francesco di Giorgio Martini with a crumbling Roman triumphal arch in the background and a Pietà above.

The first chapel to the right of the altar is home to a Madonna and Child with Saints by Matteo di Giovanni, one of whose masterpieces, St. Barbara Enthroned with Angels and Sts. Mary Magdalen and Catherine, is in the second chapel of the left transept.

An altar on the right as you leave has a 14th-century Madonna and Child Surrounded by Four Saints and God by Sodoma, with a 16th-century Siena skyline above the tiny-paneled predella.

In short Siena has in stores so many tourist destinations to watch out for. Book a hotels in Siena and ready for an exotic ride though the ethnic city of Siena.

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Corbet Ballusci - About Author:
Corbet Ballusci is an SEO content writer who has written many articles on Accommodation in siena, B&B in Siena and Teeth whitening