Siena - Duomo di Siena

The construction of the cathedral of today started in 1196, about 150 years later, the church may have been completed, but a massive addition of the cathedral was planned in 1339.

It would have more than doubled the size of the structure and so it would have been larger than (old) Saint Peter in Rome. This cathedral was never completed.

The interior of the Duomo is rather stunning, with black-and-white striped pillars and ornate decoration on every surface. The pavement of Cathedral features etched and inlaid marble panels created from 1372 to 1547.

Here in the center is a she-wolf suckling twins. The boys are Senius and Aschius, the legendary founders of Siena. They were sons of Remus and so had to flee from Rome, after uncle Romulus had killed their father. So the she-wolf stans for Siena - surrounded by eight allied cities. Rome is symbolized by an elephant.