Basilica of San Domenico in Siena

The Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, also known as the Church of Caterinian, is more like an imposing knight's castle with its mundane massiveness and crenellated tower. It is completely devoid of external decor and does not even have a main facade.

History of Creation

The construction of the Basilica of San Domenico was started in the middle of the 13th century by Dominican monks. They built in those days, not in a hurry, so the construction of the religious building took more than 40 years. After another 100 years, the church was slightly expanded, and acquired the appearance that has survived to this day in 1465.

It is believed that one of the most revered saints of Italy, Catherine of Siena, spent most of her life here. She became famous thanks to her amazing asceticism, self-denial and religious visions. By the way, Catherine received the official title of patron saint of the country only in 1939.

At the end of the 18th century, the Basilica of San Domenico was almost completely wiped off the face of the earth by a strong earthquake, but through the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church, it rose from the ruins, completely retaining its formidable appearance. This appearance was supposed to testify to the renunciation of members of the religious order from material wealth. Well, massive walls without ledges were designed to protect the city from the likely attack of neighbors from Florence.

Description

The Gothic Basilica of San Domenico was built of red brick and was decorated with a strict, but no less majestic bell tower. True, after the devastating earthquake, she somewhat lost in height.

The interior of the church is also unusual, made in the form of an Egyptian cross with eight chapels inside. The Chapel of the Capella delle Volte is especially popular with travelers and pilgrims. In this place, the inhabitants of the Basilica of San Domenico, including St. Catherine, prayed for a long time. The decoration of the chapel was the paintings of the 17th century, painted by Mattia Preti and Crescencio Gambarelli. Here, in a visual form, a description of the life of the Saint is given: her tonsure, visions, death. At the same time, it is believed that the central canvas with the face of Catherine is her only reliable image. In the chapel there is an ark with the finger of the Holy Intercessor, and the head of Catherine is kept in the altar of the Basilica of San Domenico, created in the 15th century. The rest of the relics are located in Rome, in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

The walls of the nave are of no less interest to connoisseurs of ancient painting. Here are the works of Francesco di Vannuccio, the brothers Giovanni, Lorenzetti, Stefano Volpi, Antonio Maga, Il Sodom, Alessandro Casolani. Marble floors are decorated with images of Orpheus and numerous representatives of the animal world.

The observation tower offers a magnificent view of the Cathedral of Siena and the tower of Tore del Mangia.