Designed by Giovanni Pisano in 1284, the facade of Siena Cathedral is one of Italy’s most celebrated Gothic structures. Three nearly-equal-sized portals make up the lower level of the façade. They are surmounted by a great number of beautiful marble statues representing biblical figures, which are actually copies of the originals that are housed in the nearby Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. A magnificent rose window pierces the upper story of the façade which is crowned with a massive mosaic-covered gable framed by two marble spires.  Buona visione!