Santa Maria della Scala

Museum · Siena

Santa Maria della Scala

Museum · Siena

3

Complesso museale Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza del Duomo, 1, 53100 Siena SI, Italy

Photos

Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null
Santa Maria della Scala by null

Highlights

Museum with 15th-century frescoes & fascinating archaeological museum  

Placeholder

Complesso museale Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza del Duomo, 1, 53100 Siena SI, Italy Get directions

santamariadellascala.com
@santamariadellascala

Information

Static Map

Complesso museale Santa Maria della Scala, Piazza del Duomo, 1, 53100 Siena SI, Italy Get directions

+39 0577 228744
santamariadellascala.com
@santamariadellascala
𝕏
@smariascala

Features

restroom
wheelchair accessible entrance
wheelchair accessible restroom

Last updated

Oct 25, 2025

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@afar

"Frescoes and Medical History at Santa Maria della Scala Founded in the 9th century, Santa Maria della Scala was one of Europe’s first hospitals. It was also one of the first hospitals anywhere to disinfect its equipment and only stopped taking in patients in the 1980s. (The writer Italo Calvino died here in 1961.) The early history of the hospital is illustrated in the 15th-century frescoes decorating the walls of the Pilgrim’s Hall, and there is a fascinating archaeological museum housed in the labyrinthine basement rooms."

Art and Architecture in Tuscany
View Postcard for Santa Maria della Scala
@afar

"Frescoes and Medical History at Santa Maria della Scala Founded in the 9th century, Santa Maria della Scala was one of Europe’s first hospitals. It was also one of the first hospitals anywhere to disinfect its equipment and only stopped taking in patients in the 1980s. (The writer Italo Calvino died here in 1961.) The early history of the hospital is illustrated in the 15th-century frescoes decorating the walls of the Pilgrim’s Hall, and there is a fascinating archaeological museum housed in the labyrinthine basement rooms."

The Best of Siena
View Postcard for Santa Maria della Scala
@suitcasemag
What to Do in Siena, Italy
View Postcard for Santa Maria della Scala

Peta Buckley

Google
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.

Al B

Google
Loved it!! Mosaics on the floor are priceless, the library is astonishing, as well as all the paintings. A true architectural gem. One of the best cathedral i ever seen. Truly amazing!

Alan Buckley

Google
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

Ilan Carmel

Google
One of the most spectacular museums we've been to in Italy. The wall frescos are remarkable and the archeological museum underground is an enchanting experience with a seemingly endless maze of discoveries.

R LK

Google
Great experience to visit. I would like to particularly express thanks and gratitude to a staff member working on the 5th floor library on the 1st of September 2025 (female, glasses, curly hair). She kindly gave a detailed and informative tour of the library and its history. It made the whole experience of visiting memorable and special.

Magda DK

Google
Excellent tour of the Siena underground!!!!This apparently was the worlds oldest hospital. It has so much to see. Absolutely beautiful experience and a fantastic way to cool down mid day it’s it’s very hot- which it was. We spent about 2 hours here but we all wanted to see more. Lots lots of history! Etruscan and Roman artifacts. Beautiful!!!

Markus Borneman

Google
Unforgettable museum experience, never want to repeat that again. Many of the Google reviews incorrectly reference photos and information for the cathedral and library across the street, which is not at all related to the Santa Maria della Scala. Less than 20 people were in the museum when we entered around 1630 on a Thursday. The ticket checker suggested we download an Android/iOS audio guide app for the museum, which seems impractical when the museum doesn’t provide WiFi. After entering there is little to “guide” you through the museum. The level you start on is fairly barren, the first room on your right and the big room with the frescos are really all you should bother seeing. The museum had several “temporary” exhibits which were modern era art projects, which seemed like they were expressly designed to ride the coattails of the primary exhibit. Downstairs there is an architectural display and altar with some religious relics. The Downstairs was equally baren with long hallways leading to empty rooms, and even a random dead end. Overall the museum seemed very confused with what they wanted to showcase and left you lost. We paid €9/ea for a ticket, but I’d value the experience around €3 given a ticket for the stunning cathedral and library across the street is €5.

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Google
Art is beautiful. But WORST unfriendly stuff ever in my italy travel in past 2 weeks. They never recommend combined ticket at all. And NO any information or sigh about it. Museums in Florence are extremely informative and sophisticated to guide line. I will never visit Sienna. Women stuff are so busy to have conversations. They don’t even think to help tourist.
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Chris L.

Yelp
An amazing example of form and function combined with art. The original hospital of Siena in use for hundreds of years and continually added to. Finally shuttered in 1995. Filled with art and galleries and churches and and and...amazing multi level complex that is a walk through the history of Siena. Don't miss out on this museum when you go to Siena.