San Cristoforo, Siena

The church of San Cristoforo is one of the oldest in Siena. It is a small church flanking the Piazza Tolomei in the city.

The Church of San Cristoforo was first constructed in the 12th century. It was the seat of the Great Council of the Republic of Siena called the Council of the Bell between the 12th and 13th centuries. The Council of the Bell was so called because the members were summoned for meetings by ringing a bell. It has undergone several additions and renovations since. A brick facade and four columns were added to the original structure at first and in the 17th century, cloisters and statues were installed. It was damaged by the earthquake of 1798 and its height was shortened. The facade and the 13th century cloisters were renovated again in 1921.

Visitors enter the cloister of the San Cristoforo Church from the left. The cloisters are now used to host exhibitions. The nave has a beautiful sculpture of Madonna and the Child by Girolamo del Pacchia. There is a sculpture group in the high altar by Bartolomeo Mazzuoli dating from 1693 including a statue of Beato Bernardo Tolomei. A recent addition is a wooden statue of the twentieth century Italian saint, Pio (Pius) of Pietrelcina. The posture of the statue is of Padre Pio, as he was popularly called, hearing confessions.