Siena Cathedral's marble floor uncovered for summer viewing

From June 27 to July 31 and again from August 18 to October 18, 2022, the Opera Metropolitana di Siena and Opera Laboratori will uncover the marble floor of Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), an elaborate mosaic of 56 marble panels created between the 14th and 16th centuries. The floor, called "the most beautiful, great and magnificent ever made" by Giorgio Vasari, features works by Domenico Beccafumi, Pinturicchio, and other Sienese artists. The uncovering is part of the project "Come stelle in terra" (Like Stars on Earth), inspired by Saint Paul's Letter to the Philippians. Visitors can download a free audioguide or book guided tours. The ticket Opa Si Pass includes access to the Museo dell'Opera, which houses sculptures from the cathedral's facade and Duccio di Buoninsegna's stained-glass window. The article also promotes a day trip from Siena to Montalcino, including stops at the Battistero enoteca e bistrot, the Abbazia di Sant'Antimo (a 12th-century Benedictine abbey with a herb garden and pharmacy), and the Tempio del Brunello, a wine museum opened in 2021 that uses VR headsets and an app-based sommelier to explore the Brunello wine region.