Under the Cathedral: an immersive show tells the story of Siena

The project Divina Bellezza - Sotto il Duomo, percorsi di luce (Divine Beauty - Under the Cathedral, Pathways of Light), the pathway through which theOpera Metropolitana di Siena intends to “recover and enhance” (so reads the presentation) theOratory of San Giovannino in Siena, has begun. It is a path that, starting from the Baptistery, will take the public to the oratory’s construction site, where an immersive show has been set up to illustrate to visitors the history, art and traditions of Siena through 3D videomapping projections combined with narratives and sound effects featuring the Sienese themselves.

“A rope-instrument and a rope-ideal,” we read in the presentation, "unite citizens by inviting them to Con-cordia, to the union of hearts. From political Concord flow the beneficial effects on city government that are reflected in major works. The rope metaphorically binds the Cathedral, symbol of devotional sentiment, to the fulcrum of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Hall of Nine painted by Ambrogio Lorenzetti with its political allegories, political ideas. Good and Bad Government, Peace and War, Concord with the planer that levels the citizens and Discord with the attribute of the saw that divides them. The dream starts in the Middle Ages, but extends to the present day: the hope is that of a rebirth through Wisdom that inspires Justice and leads to Concord, the common thread of the show."

With the show Divine Beauty - Under the Cathedral, Paths of Light, the Metropolitan Opera wants to both provide a new proposal to visitors and recover the Oratory’s structures (as well as restore the works preserved inside). The “relaunch” also concerns the Santa Maria della Scala complex, where the route In Space and Time is planned: four 3D videomapping installations with multilingual audio will acquaint viewers with the history of Santa Maria della Scala. “A high-tech work,” explained the mayor of Siena, Bruno Valentini, “that will allow visitors to learn about some moments of the evolution and history of the ancient Spedale and that by integrating with the audio guide and accompanying the visitor from room to room to discover the beauty of the place will allow him to live a real immersive experience. This is another step forward, after those of the past months, which bring Santa Maria della Scala ever closer to the standards of the great museums and places of culture in our country.”

The Divine Beauty - Under the Cathedral route is open daily from June 22 to Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5:30 p.m. Performances start every half hour. Evening openings from 9:30 to 11 p.m. are scheduled on July 5, 12, 19 and 26 and August 2, 23 and 30. The ticket, which also includes a visit to the Baptistery, costs 12 euros.

Under the Cathedral: an immersive show tells the story of Siena

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