Church San Gaetano - Siena

The narrow church or oratory of San Gaetano di Thiene stands in the middle of Via dei Pispini in Siena, Italy.

This oratory of the aristocratic Contrada del Nicchio (Seashell) was built from 1683-1700. The simple facade features a large stucco seashell above the doorway. There is a 14th-century painting of a Madonna with Child and Saints, probably the icon of the Madonna del Forcone, formerly venerated in an aedicula where the church now stands.

Between 1686 -1705 Giacomo Franchini added much of the internal stucco decoration, including statues of Blessed Ambrogio Sansedoni (first niche on the left); the second niche and almost in conversation with the first is Saint Gaetano (Saint Cajetan); on the right are Saint Vincenzo Ferrer (flame overhead) and Blessed Giovanni Colombini with a crucifix in the left hand. Next to the altar are Saints Bernardino and Caterina of Siena. The ceiling was painted with theological virtues by Giuseppe Nasini and his student Stefano di Francesco Marzi. The work was completed in 1734 by Apollonio Nasini to designs and with the help of father Giuseppe Nicola.

Willem Vandenameele