Overview
Siena Cathedral houses countless masterpieces from every era, but the one that is most noteworthy is the floor, visible only from the end of August to the end of October, made with the art of graffito and marble commesso. Giorgio Vasari described it as 'the most beautiful, largest and most magnificent floor ever made', the result of a programme that spanned the centuries, from the 14th century to the 19th century. The models for the fifty-six inlays were provided by important artists, all 'Sienese', except for Bernardino di Betto, known as Pinturicchio, who created the inlay with the Mount of Wisdom in 1505. In the three naves, the itinerary develops through themes related to classical antiquity, while in the transept and choir, stories of the Jewish people are illustrated.
