Even compared to the diversity of medieval Italy, the form of government celebrated by Siena’s Civic Museum stands apart. Located inside the Palazzo Pubblico, the city’s City Hall for over 700 years, the museum displays art and artifacts from the period of the Government of the Nine. Visit the Civic Museum to learn more about the unusual republican system or just to fill the minutes while waiting for your time slot to climb the Torre del Mangia.
Walk into the Cortile de Podestà, the courtyard next to the Torre del Mangia and the entrance to the museum. Bypass the line and enter the museum, which is located in the principal rooms used by the Government of the Nine before the city was brought under the control of Florence in the later Middle Ages. Start in the most important room, the Sala dei Nove, which is lined with astonishing frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti depicting the cycle of Good and Bad Government.
Continue on to the Sala del Mappamondo, the largest room in the complex, whose frescoes are known for their unusual subject matter. In a world where most art was exclusively religious, spot the knight, Guidoriccio da Fogliano, who rides his horse against a bright blue sky. See more conventional and just as beautiful subject matter in Simone Martini’s Virgin Mary on the opposite wall.
Explore the collections of objects in the next rooms and end the visit by going up onto the panoramic terrace that overlooks the city.
On the first floor of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Civic Museum is located in the very center of Siena. From the museum you can walk to the Duomo in about 5 minutes. The train station is a 30-minute walk or 15-minute bus or taxi ride away. Several metered parking garages serve the city center.
The museum is open daily from mid morning to evening, with occasional variations. The ticket office closes 45 minutes before the museum does. Get a slight discount for booking tickets ahead of time.
