Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano, Siena

Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano, Siena

A mysterious apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared in the house called Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano and it became a church soon after. It is one of the oldest residences in Siena. The Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano is a mannerist building constructed after the conquest of the city by the Medici family. It belonged to a Sienese military captain called Provenzano Salvani who played a major role in the victory of the city during the Battle of Montaperti.

St. Catherine of Siena placed a terracotta statue of the Pieta, or Madonna, with the dying Christ in her arms on the façade after the apparition of Virgin Mary was witnessed in the house. In 1552, a Spanish soldier tried to destroy the statue by firing at it. His weapon misfired and killed him instead and only the arms of the statue were damaged. The event was regarded by the locals as a miracle. The basilica was consecrated in 1611 and the damaged statue was placed on the high altar.

The interior of the church has the plan of a Latin cross. It has a single nave and an octagonal dome. The altar that houses the terracotta Pieta was made between 1617 and 1631. Notable works of art inside the church are “The Mass of Saint Cerbone” by Rutilio Manetti and Dionysio Montorselli’s “The Vision of Saint Catherine of the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo.”

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Siena. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano on Map

Sight Name: Chiesa di Santa Maria di Provenzano
Sight Location: Siena, Italy (See walking tours in Siena)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Siena, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Siena

Create Your Own Walk in Siena

Creating your own self-guided walk in Siena is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Siena's Palaces Walking Tour

Siena's Palaces Walking Tour

A leisurely stroll through downtown Siena – a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, full of imperious castles, palaces and other historic buildings – promises an exciting day of discovery and a pleasant experience for architecture buffs.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
Medieval Siena Walking Tour

Medieval Siena Walking Tour

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No tour of Siena is complete without visiting its heart, the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Siena Old Town Walking Tour

Siena Old Town Walking Tour

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Siena established the Council of Nine in 1270. This Council was responsible for a flourishing economy, a focus on art, and a building boom. In 1348, Siena was...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles