How to go up to the Panorama del Duomo viewpoint (Siena); schedules, prices

The panorama It is a construction that will undoubtedly catch your attention when during your Siena visit, Toscana, you arrive before the cathedral Duomo.

I am referring to the large structure with arches that you will see in the square next to the large cathedral complex.

To the siena cathedral You will surely walk from the central and famous Piazza del Campo, so you will access it through the back of the temple by going up some stairs.

Through there you will reach a large pedestrian plaza where on the right you will find the building of the Duomo.

If you look closely, on the left appears the aforementioned construction with three enormous arches, and at the top you will see people in a kind of viewpoint.

Indeed it is the so-called Panorama of the cathedral, and from said viewpoint you have incredible panoramic views of Siena.

Best views of Siena from the Panorama del Duomo

To understand what the Panorama, you should know that in 1339 the construction of what is known as Cathedral Nueva, which was actually a great extension of the Old Cathedral which had been completed in 1263.

With this expansion it was intended to build a huge gothic cathedral from which the old woman (the cathedral that you can currently see) would become the transept of new.

For this purpose, the construction of the north side façade and the main façade that faces east began, and whose basic structure makes up the current Panorama.

This new cathedral would have three large central naves, and two lateral ones.

However, in 1348, as a result of a great epidemic of Black Death, the project was cancelled.

It is also thought that another reason was the flaws detected in the construction, which made the structure unstable.

Finally, these unstable structures were demolished, but you can still see part of the aforementioned north side façade, where the Opera Museum, and the three arches of the main façade, what is now known as the Panorama.

How to get to the Panorama viewpoint in Siena, our experience

To go up to the Panorama of the Duomo of Siena viewpoint You have to enter through the aforementioned cathedral museum, until you reach a large room where tapestries are displayed.

Si Siena visits During the holiday season, don't be surprised to find a long line to go up to the viewpoint, which also moves very slowly.

This is because access is via a very narrow spiral staircase, since the space available in the two areas of the viewpoint is really narrow and limited to very few people.

Of course, although in my case I had to wait an hour for go up to Panorama, once you are at the viewpoint you have no time limit to leave it.

I tell you that the panoramic views of Siena They are really incredible, one of the best experiences of my last trip to Tuscany.

Siena Panorama Schedule

The Siena Duomo Panorama visiting hours They are, from March to October, from 10,30:19 a.m. to 17,30 p.m., closing at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. the rest of the year.

To go on the Panorama you have to buy one of the combined cards that allow you to visit the different rooms of the Siena cathedral complex.

Siena Panorama ticket prices

In advance of your trip, and to avoid possible queues, here you can buy the card in Spanish OPA Yes Pass, whose price includes the advance purchase fee, and here you go another option for purchase.

Guided tours in Siena

If instead of going on your own to visit this Tuscan city you prefer to sign up for an organized excursion, here you have the information about a Spanish tour to Siena from Florence which in a twelve-hour day will also take you to Pisa y San Gimignano.