Church of St. Dominic in Italy, Siena resort
Rating: 8,2/10 (900 votes)  The Basilica of St. Dominic is one of the most important churches in Siena. The church is located just 300 meters from Piazza del Campo in Via Camporeggio. The temple was founded in 1226 by the Dominican order. Construction of the building began on a hill donated to the order by the Malavolti family. The construction lasted for 34 years. In the XIV century, large-scale reconstruction works were carried out in the building, during which the church was expanded. The main building material was brick. The facade of the building is practically devoid of any decor, and in turn is an example of strict Gothic architecture. The sloping part of the building resembles Cistercian structures. In the 14th century, a bell tower was added to the building, which had to be significantly shortened at the end of the 18th century due to an earthquake. The main facade of the basilica was never started, remaining at the design stage. Therefore, the main entrance to the building is on the side. Under the basilica you can see the Gothic crypt, completely restored in 1935. The crypt is divided into three naves ending in three apses. The main altar is decorated with works by Ventura Salimbeni and Sano di Pietro. The upper basilica is decorated with frescoes and paintings illustrating episodes from the life of Catherine of Siena, works by Mattia Preti and Crescenzo Gambarelli. The altar of the Chapel delle Volte contains a fresco by Andrea Vanni, which is the only lifetime portrait of St. Catherine. Along the left wall of the nave in the altars are the frescoes Madonna and Child, St. Hyacinth Rescuing the Ark and the Statue of the Virgin Mary from the Fire, and; Marriage of Catherine of Alexandria. The frescoes were designed by Francesco di Vannuccio, Francesco Vanni and Sebastiano Folli. On the right side of the nave are the frescoes The Nativity of Our Lady. works by Alessandro Casolani and 'Appearance of the image of the Virgin Mary to the blessed Gallerani' works of Stefano Volpi. Particularly noteworthy is the Chapel of St. Catherine, created in 1466, to store the relics of the saint. The head of the saint is kept in the reliquary in the central part of the altar. On both sides, the altar is framed with frescoes by the master of Sodoma – Ecstasy of Saint Catherine and `` Fainting. '' The marble floor is decorated with an image of Orpheus with animals. The Basilica of San Domenico, along with other attractions in the historic part of Siena, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   
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