Siena Cathedral
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The Duomo di Siena is the medieval cathedral of Siena, Italy. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino.
The Cathedral itself was originally designed and completed between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure. It has the form of a Latin cross with a slightly projecting transept, a dome and a bell tower. The dome is octagonally based and only becomes circular above the supporting columns. The lantern, atop the dome, was added by the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The nave is separated from the two aisles by semicircular arches. The exterior and interior are constructed of striped white and greenish-black marble, with addition of red marble on the façade. Black and white are the symbolic colors of Siena, derived from the black and white horses of the legendary city's founders Senius and Aschius.
In Renaissance art, the Roman statue group of the three graces in the Piccolomini library in Duomo di Siena inspired most themes.
