The Siena Cathedral will reopen its ‘Gate of Heaven’ itinerary beginning March 1, allowing visitors to explore nooks and corners of the church rarely visible to the public. Offered for the first time last spring, this is a chance to ascend the church’s hidden spiral staircases and eventually arrive at its highest point.
Some special sections of the route will be reserved to small groups led by accredited guides. There will be opportunities to wander above the sacred space and admire stunning views of both the interior of the cathedral and the surrounding piazza. Standing near Ulisse De Matteis’s stained glass depictions of the apostles, participants will be able to look down on the cathedral’s sculptural marvels and get an insider’s view of the saints depicted inside the dome.
The Gate of Heaven experience is designed to recall the story of Jacob’s ladder in the book of Genesis. In the passage, a ladder to heaven appears to Jacob in a dream, and God then promises him land and a long line of descendants.
Last year, the initiative was quite successful with both Italian and foreign visitors. Opera della Metropolitana, the organization that oversees Siena’s cathedral and its associated monuments, has announced that the opportunity will be available for an even longer period this year, ending January 6, 2015.
Information and Booking
0577/286300 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)
