San Giuseppe, Siena

The construction of the San Giuseppe Church began in 1521 and lasted until the 1650s. It was commissioned by the Contrada dell' Onda, one of the 17 districts, or contradas, of Siena. The brick facade of the church was completed in 1563, featuring two superimposed orders divided by pilasters. The dome has an octagonal shape with a lantern at the top. The interiors of the church were commissioned by the Nasini Family.

A museum, dedicated to the Contrada, is located inside the church, in the crypt, which is a hall built around the 16th century. Each district of Siena has its symbol and that of the Contrada Dell' Onda is a dolphin, since "Onda" means "wave" in Italian. Visitors are greeted by the sculpture of a dolphin outside the San Guiseppe church. The San Guiseppe festival, held in March, is a popular event among locals. During the festival, the adjacent streets and the square in front of the church are filled with stalls selling hot rice flour fritters, rattles, windmills and other toys. The church facade and the piazza are festooned with green wreaths and paper flowers, and the church itself is richly adorned with blue and white banners embroidered with the Contrada's dolphin symbol.