Piccolomini Library

You can only access via the Cathedral, which requires tickets to enter. The library itself requires no additional ticket. It is exceptionally beautiful and interesting, and I highly recommend making your way through.

The ceiling and brightly coloured walls in this library are just exquisite! The library is dedicated to the beautifully illustrated Hyme books, some of which are 700 years old. You gain entry to the library inside the Cathedral. You will need to purchase a ticket and I suggest the €23 pass which gives you entry to the Cathedral, allows you to climb panoramic facade, the Mini Library, the Bapistry, the Museum, the Crypt and to walk the nave in the Cathedral (The Gate of Heaven). Highly recommended

The Piccolomini Library is a monumental environment of the Siena cathedral.The library is magically beautiful. Its frescoes and exposed books are priceless treasure. In the honor the memory of the maternal uncle Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II), and to preserve the rich bibliographic patrimony that the pontiff and humanist collected when he was in Rome, Cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, archbishop of Siena (later Pope Pius III), around in 1492 he was built a library on the premises of the old rectory along the north-western side of the Cathedral. Todeschini was inspired by the French tradition that included libraries attached to cathedrals and by the opening of the Vatican Library of Pope Sixtus IV. As for the chronology of the frescoes that decorate the library, they were made by Pinturicchio and his workshop in a period of time ranging from 1503 to 1508 and celebrate the life and deeds of the pontificate of Pius II, rich in evocation of landscapes and real and imaginative costumes, with refined representations of ceremonies and characters, performed with a wealth of glazed colors. Among the beautiful murals besides Pope Pius II is the character of Pinturicchio himself. In the scene with the canonization of Saint Catherine of Siena, among the public of the religious orders, in the lower left, the two figures in which the young Raphael (with red stockings) have long recognized themselves, who would have collaborated with Bernardino di Betto the execution of the frescoes in the Library, and Pinturicchio himself (with the red cap). The fifth scene of the cycle is one of the best known: it represents the meeting, promoted by the pontiff, between Emperor Frederick III and Eleonora of Portugal, which took place on February 24, 1452, near Porta Camollia. In addition to the murals in the room, we can also admire the marble sculpture of Three Graces. Magnificent codes ( Hand Painted and Written Books),(Gradualie Antifonari) are preserved in the display cases on the walls. It is a very representative collection for the history of the Italian miniature of the fifteenth century. Beyond the Sienese artists, the most precious pages are those decorated by Girolamo da Cremona and Liberale da Verona.

You can only visit the library from within the Cathedral. The library named after the artist who frescoed it is absolutely beautiful - it looks like the panels were painted yesterday. You need to take some time to really appreciate the quality of painting richness of the colours. So many visitor took a few photographs and then left. The ceiling is also richly frescoed and equally magnificent. The library also contain a number of beautifully illustrated manuscripts from the late 1400’s. An amazing place that I strongly recommend.

In order to visit the Piccolomini library you need to purchase a ticket for the cathedral. The cathedral costs €4 to enter just the cathedral or you can buy the OPI Pass which costs €13 and this gives access to the cathedral, Piccolomini library, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and Facciatone, Crypt and Baptistry. It is well worth paying the extra to visit all the other facilities. You can purchase the OPI pass online and book a time slot to visit the cathedral. This saves time not having to queue to enter. Once inside the cathedral you will need to queue to enter the library. I would recommend seeing how long the queue is and if not long visit the library or if too long visit the cathedral. There is a one way system in place in the library. You will enter one door and come out the same door. The staff will keep encouraging you to move forward. Make sure you have your camera ready as you will not be able to go backwards and you will be told to keep moving forward. The frescoes are very impressive. They are in excellent condition and look brand new as though they were painted yesterday. The library is open from 10.30-17:30pm.

Beautiful room inside Siena's cathedral. Spectacular and exceptional artwork in this library constructed by Pope Pius III to commemorate the memory of his uncle, Pope Pius II. The walls are divided into 10 scenes representing various important stages in the life of the Pope, the ceiling itself offers another impressive view with its main rectangle and half voltas painted in blue, red and gold and in the middle of the room there's the beautiful copy of The Three Graces from Roman times.

Simply amazing decoration on the walls & ceiling. Do not miss this wonderful library. The hand writing in the manuscripts is a work of art.

Actually I got neck pain after staring too long at the walls and ceiling. Vibrant colour and a 3D vision when combining with the curves that wrap each picture. It gave me a feeling that I look at different rooms beyond the walls. Masterpieces of work! Full respect for the artists of more than 500 years ago!