Church Magdalenae - Siena

The complex became the property of the Maddalena sisters in 1539, who renovated it and entrusted the church project to Antonio Maria Lari, known as il Tozzo. The church has undergone significant changes over the centuries: the interior was completely renovated between 1715 and 1729 and decorated with late Baroque stucco, while the neoclassical facade was built in 1839 to a design by Agostino Fantastici.[1]

The high altar, with lavish sculptural decoration, bears a painting of Saint Mary Magdalene listening to Christ's sermon by Raphael Vanni. On the side altars are two paintings by Antonio Bonfigli from about 1729, depicting the Torture of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and the Madonna with Child and Saints.

Only the paintings on the three altars remain of the original church furniture. The high altar, with its lavish sculptural decoration, bears a painting of Saint Mary Magdalene listening to the preaching of Christ by Raphael Vanni.

The wooden pulpit, made in 1839 by Agostino Fantastici, is today kept in the church of San Raimondo al Refugio, because in 1891, by royal decree, the conservatories of San Raimondo and Santa Maria Maddalena were united in the Refugio, thus creating the "Regi Conservatori Riuniti di Siena", an institution placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Education. This union realistically resulted in the relocation of some of the furniture

Willem Vandenameele