Santa Maria della Scala
Across the steps from Siena's cathedral — which is, in fact, what its name means — Santa Maria della Scala spent nearly a thousand years as a working hospital before becoming one of Italy's most quietly absorbing museums. The building itself is the exhibit: medieval vaulted halls, tunnels cut through sandstone, a pilgrims' ward whose frescoed walls record the lives of the sick and the people who cared for them.
The Pellegrinaio, painted in the 15th century by Domenico di Bartolo, Lorenzo Vecchietta and Priamo della Quercia, is the room most visitors come for — and it earns the detour. The original marble reliefs from Jacopo della Quercia's Fonte Gaia fountain, carved between 1409 and 1419, are here too, protected inside a former granary.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to go straight downstairs. The lower levels — vaulted rooms and sandstone tunnels that once stored grain and housed the poor — get overlooked in favor of the Pellegrinaio, but the scale of what's underground reframes the whole complex. Give yourself time to get a little lost down there.
The story behind Santa Maria della Scala
The earliest written record of Santa Maria della Scala dates to 1090, though tradition places its founding in 898, attributed to a cobbler named Sorore. Whatever its precise origin, it grew into one of Europe's first purpose-built hospitals, caring for pilgrims on the Via Francigena as well as Siena's poor and sick. The confraternity founded by Andrea Gallerani formalized much of that charitable work.
By 1404 the city had taken control of the institution, folding it into civic governance. It continued as a functioning hospital until the 1980s — nearly eleven centuries of unbroken use — before reopening in 1995 as a museum and cultural complex. Architects Giancarlo De Carlo and Guido Canali oversaw its transformation.
Good to know
Entrance is on Piazza del Duomo, a short walk from Piazza del Campo. Open daily most of the year from 10:00 to 19:00; reduced hours on weekdays in winter. Admission is €10, and the first Sunday of each month is free. Budget at least an hour, more if you plan to take the lower levels seriously.
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What travellers say about Santa Maria della Scala
This was an amazing find, the hidden gem of Siena. The vastness and depth of this space, the complexity of this building could only be appreciated from within. The space itself was a sight. The artifacts inside were extraordinary. There were bronze pins made in 7th centery BC.
Oct 8 2025. Wow. Wish I had more than 1.5 hours here. Could easily return to Siena and return here to find something new or to re-enjoy. Beautiful artwork displays, interpretive and historical displays of all types. So much of Siena’s history here that I went to re-visit some of its sites with a new perspective. Amazing value for the admission price - much less than other places visited in Italy. Purchased ticket at door and did self tour. Layout of floors was tricky at first to navigate but I figured it out eventually. Staff was helpful with audio guide as it was slow to download. Was not busy at all and it was nice to have time to read and appreciate the displays without a crowd.
Beautiful museum which keep on serving surprises after surprises, you need time to get to all the rooms and contemplate everything. Definitely worth the tour if you’re in Siena!
The best 7 euros i have spent, this place is like the tardis we could have spent days here. What a highlight of our trip
This place is amazing! Such great value for only 7 euros (October 2025). Plan to spend quite a few hours here as there are so many levels, and like most other places I Italy, the further underground you go, the further back on history you go - all the way to the Etruscan times.
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