Santa Maria Della Scala (Siena) - Location

Location

The Hospital partially gets its name from its position. Located across the Piazza del Duomo from Siena’s famous Cathedral, The Santa Maria della scala refers to its position across from the steps that lead into the Cathedral. The Hospital is made up of a complex of buildings. Those buildings have been enlarged and improved upon over the years, yet the Hospital’s properties also once included much of the Via del Capitano and land outside the city walls as well as other, smaller hospitals. Around the 13th and 14th centuries, the Hospital organized its land into large agricultural estates. This is said to have “represented the largest concentration of land of the Sienese state.” This agricultural land helped to financially support the Hospital’s works.

Particular sections of note include the Church of the Santissima Annuziata, which was built at the end of the 13th century but then completely renovated towards the end of the 15th century, and the Pellegrinaio. The Pellegrinaio (or “Pilgrim’s Hall”) is the main hall where pilgrims were lodged. It also served as a location for public festivities. This hall, along with another specifically to house women was built around 1325. The church of the Santissima Annuziata, built during the 13th century, was enlarged during the second part of the 15th century, along with the “vertical expansion” of the Palazzo del Rettore.