Santa Maria Assunta (Siena) facts for kids
The Siena Cathedral (its official name is Santa Maria Assunta) is a very old and famous church in Siena, Italy. It's also known as the Duomo di Siena in Italian. This amazing building is the main church for the archbishop of Siena, who is a very important leader in the church.
The cathedral was mostly built a long, long time ago, between the years 1215 and 1263. Before this grand building stood there, another church was on the same spot. Siena Cathedral is famous all over Italy for its unique "stripes." These stripes are made from different types of stone, usually dark green or black and white marble, which gives the building a very striking look. It's also interesting because it's considered an unfinished building, as some parts were never fully completed as originally planned.
Contents
Discovering Siena Cathedral's History
The story of Siena Cathedral began even before the 1200s. People started building this incredible church on the site of an older one. Imagine how much work it took to build such a huge structure without modern machines! The main part of the cathedral was finished in the mid-13th century. This was a time when many beautiful cathedrals were being built across Europe.
Why the Cathedral is Striped
One of the first things you'll notice about Siena Cathedral is its amazing striped pattern. This look comes from using two different colors of marble: dark green (which looks almost black) and white. These colors are the traditional colors of Siena. The stripes make the cathedral stand out and give it a very unique and grand appearance. It's like a giant work of art made from stone!
The Unfinished Dream of a Bigger Church
You might hear that Siena Cathedral is "unfinished." This is because in the 14th century, the people of Siena wanted to build an even bigger cathedral! They started a huge new project called the "Duomo Nuovo" (New Cathedral). If it had been finished, it would have been one of the largest churches in the world. However, a terrible plague, called the Black Death, hit Siena in 1348. This event stopped the building work, and the grand new cathedral was never completed. You can still see parts of the unfinished walls today, which show just how ambitious their plans were.
Exploring the Cathedral's Amazing Art
Siena Cathedral is not just a beautiful building from the outside; it's also filled with incredible art and details inside. Every corner tells a story about the history and faith of Siena.
The Incredible Marble Floor
One of the most special parts of the cathedral is its floor. It's not just a plain floor; it's covered with amazing pictures made from different colored marble. These pictures show stories from the Bible and other important figures. It took many artists hundreds of years to create this stunning marble artwork. It's so precious that sometimes parts of it are covered to protect them.
Statues and Sculptures Inside
Inside the cathedral, you'll find many beautiful statues created by famous artists. These sculptures add to the grand feeling of the church. They often show important religious figures or scenes, helping to tell stories through art.
Images for kids
-
Facade
-
The cathedral fits very well into the rest of Siena
-
Interior view.
.jpg)
