Santa Maria of Scala Hospital Museum, Siena (must see)

Standing opposite Siena Cathedral, Santa Maria della Scala was one of Europe’s earliest hospitals and is now one of the city’s most fascinating museum complexes. According to local tradition, it was founded on land donated by a shoemaker and was initially administered by Siena Cathedral. By the 15th century, its management had passed to the city.

The hospital cared for abandoned children, the poor, the sick, and pilgrims. Much of its operating budget came from donations and bequests made by wealthy Sienese citizens. The institution was directed by a rector, who supervised the lay brothers responsible for its daily work.

Santa Maria della Scala eventually became a powerful civic institution with its own administration, property, and artistic patronage. Its interiors were once extensively decorated with frescoes by Sienese masters, although only part of this decoration survives. While the famous 1288 Italian stained-glass window sits directly across the square in the Cathedral, the hospital walls showcase their own artistic breakthroughs in depicting everyday Renaissance life.

The highlight of a visit is the Pilgrims’ Hall, once the hospital’s principal ward. Its walls are covered with remarkable 15th-century frescoes illustrating the history and charitable activities of the institution. The scenes show the care of the sick, the distribution of alms, the reception of pilgrims, and the upbringing of abandoned children.

Elsewhere, the museum contains an extensive collection of Sienese painting and sculpture, making it one of the city’s most important art repositories. The basement houses the National Archaeological Museum, where visitors can see objects discovered during excavations in Siena and the surrounding region.

The vast complex also includes chapels, underground passages, former storage rooms, and spaces used for temporary exhibitions.