Santa Maria della Scala is one of the oldest and largest pilgrim hospices and hospitals in Europe. After a new hospital was built at the gates of the city, this huge complex was transformed into the most important cultural centre in Siena. Following the restoration of 13,000 square metres, the ancient hospital today bears living witness to almost 1,000 years of Western history. With its passages carved out of the rock, its huge pietra serena and brick spaces, its churches and chapels, its streets and courtyards open to the sky and its monumental frescoed halls, Santa Maria della Scala is a kind of “city within the city”, a cultural centre bursting with significance, history and art.

With more than 200.000 cubic metres and a thousand-year history of hospitality and healthcare, the Santa Maria Maria della Scala allows visitors to discover the culture and history of Siena community through impressive monumental settings.