A museum in the heart of Santa Maria della Scala
The National Archaeological Museum of Siena is located in one of the most symbolic places in the city: Santa Maria della Scala, which for centuries has welcomed pilgrims, travelers, and stories from every era. Established in the 1930s by the Sienese archaeologist Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli, the museum aimed to tell the oldest history of Siena through the artifacts preserved in the private collections of noble families.
The museum sections and historical collections
The Topographical Section guides visitors on a journey through time, from prehistory to the Etruscan cities, up to the first Roman settlements that shaped the Tuscan landscape. The Historical Collections Section, on the other hand, gathers the treasures of the great Sienese families, including Chigi Zondadari, Sansedoni, Bargagli, and Mieli, who for centuries have preserved urns, bronzes, and ceramics like small memory chests.
Etruscan artifacts and testimonies of the territory
Among the most fascinating artifacts are the Etruscan cinerary urns, carved from travertine and alabaster, capable of telling stories of families, rituals, and lost beliefs. The Attic red and black figure ceramics testify to the contacts between Siena and the ancient Mediterranean, through objects that traveled by sea before arriving in the Tuscan hills.
The necropolises of Sferracavalli and Molinello have yielded complete funerary furnishings, ritual objects, and votive bronzes that speak of a rich and complex spiritual world.
A journey through maps, reconstructions, and everyday objects
The modern setup, with maps, reconstructions, and narrative panels, allows visitors to approach the daily life of the Etruscans through tools, jewelry, weapons, and small objects that still seem to vibrate with life.
Many artifacts come from chance discoveries made by farmers and travelers, who have unearthed fragments of a past ready to resurface.
Visiting the National Archaeological Museum
The visit is ideal for those who wish to discover a different and ancestral Siena, filled with tombs, villages, and distant stories. The route can be combined with other wonders of Santa Maria della Scala, such as the Pellegrinaio Hall, the Chapel of the Mantle, and the area that preserves the original Fonte Gaia.
The spaces are accessible and equipped with elevators, rest areas, and a bookshop with archaeological publications and educational materials. The opening hours follow those of Santa Maria della Scala, with extended hours in the spring and summer months.
Credits:
- Luca Deravignone
