Palazzo Chigi Saracini - Siena - Tuscany

The Palazzo Chigi-Saracini is a city palace from the fourteenth century in Siena. It is used by the Accademia Musicale Chigiana and it still houses the important Chigi-Saracini art collection. The palazzo Chigi-Saracini is located on Via di Città.
In the mid-12th century, a keep was built on the site of the palazzo today by the powerful Ghibelin Marescotti family. The original residential tower can still be seen next to the palazzo.
The art collection is still kept in the Academia. It contains a large number of works by Italian masters, especially Sienese. Some of the big names include: Sassetta, Il Sodoma, Domenico Beccafumi, Sandro Botticelli, Sano di Pietro, Rutilio Manetti, Francesco Vanni. In addition, there is also an important collection of ceramics from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century and ivory and silver objects, in addition to the particularly rich furniture. The museum is accessible but only on Fridays and Saturdays because of the educational function of the building.

Willem Vandenameele