Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico

From here, the view of Siena historical center is outstanding. The Basilica is an interesting example of Gothic style.

Beautiful stained glass window inside the basilica & Relic of Saint Cateriniana,no photography.

Enormous basilica located on the top of the hill. Hold the head of St Caterina, patron of Europe

Robert our driver for the day added this little stop. The weather made for a picturesque experience.

Very beautiful church.

The first thing we see when we come to Siena is this beautiful Basilica. We are amazed by her beauty and grandeur. The Basilica of San Domenico is one of the most important churches in Siena. It contains a multitude of important frescoes and relics. Her history is more than interesting. Much of the mystical life of Saint Catherine took place within the walls of this beautiful Basilica, which was one of the first to be dedicated to St. Dominic.The Dominicans arrived in Siena in 1220, a year before the death of their founder Domenico di Guzmán. And they begin the construction of this Basilica in 1226 on the hill of Camporegio which they received as a gift from the Malavolti family. It was built in stages and completed in 1465, in Gothic style. The Church contains a magnificent Maestà by Guido da Siena (master to Duccio of Boninsegna) dating back to 1221. The old Chapter Room, the old Sacresty, the Refectory and the Dormitory were all built with the original Church and the Cloister was frescoed by Lippo Memmi and Lippo Vanni. In the first half of the fourteenth century the new Church (crypt and transept for the old Church) was built on the steep side of Camporegio hill overlooking the district of Fontebranda where St. Catherine had been born. Catherine of Siena was a mystic, activist, and author who had a great influence on Italian literature and the Catholic Church. When she began going to Church of St. Dominic the new edifice was already almost finished. Catherine of Siena is one of the outstanding figures of medieval Catholicism, by the strong influence she has had in the history of the papacy and her extensive authorship. She was behind the return of the Pope from Avignon to Rome, and then carried out many missions entrusted by the pope, something quite rare for a woman in the Middle Ages. Her Dialogue, hundreds of letters, and dozens of prayers, also give her a prominent place in the history of Italian literature. After the canonization of St. Catherine in 1461 the Basilica accepted the most precious Caterian codes and many relics (contains the head-relic of Saint Catherine). They are located in La cappella di Santa Caterina.

It is a nice gothic church and the place with all the old buildings is very beautiful and impressed.I buy a ticket online and I would prefer it to do the same.I booked a tour with a guide and it was good and interesting to learn about the history of the church.The city is so beautiful and old.You thinking the time stops here many years before

It’s a really nice church. Free to enter. And lots of open space. The stained glass I have never seen anything like that before Also there is the preserved head of a saint, and her finger store there that you can view. You are not suppose to take pictures It was nice. The church is beautiful.