The Oratory of San Bernardino contains the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art. The series of works is truly endless and, to appreciate them, it is best to use an audio guide. Bring your earphones with you because, included in the "OPA SI Pass" ticket which I highly recommend (since it allows you to visit several works from the city at a convenient price) there is also an audio guide that you can download directly onto your cell phone

This 15th century Oratorio which also includes the Diocean Museum for religious art, is located almost adjacent to the huge Basilica di San Francesco and about a 10 minute walk from the Duomo. Whilst none of the Duomo ticket paraphernalia mentions the Oratorio, entry to it is included in the various Acropoli passes. You cannot buy a separate ticket to the Oratorio. Also the Oratorio is only open from 13-30 til 19-00. The Oratorio is small comprising really only 5 rooms including the upstairs chapel. Externally the Oratorio has a red brick two storey facade with a single portal that has an ornate white travertine architrave dating from 1574. There are two small windows with bars across them either side of the portal whilst on the second storey, underneath the gabled roof, there is a large symbol representing San Bernadino, a large sun with 12 rays emanating from it. There are two larger windows either side of this symbol. Inside the single display room on the ground floor is the ticket desk as well as some beautiful paintings which comprise part of the Diocean Museum which has gathered together a number of priceless pieces dating from the 13th to the 19th century from other churches in the Siena diocese. The lovely blue starry frescoed vaulted ceiling on the ground floor dates from the 16th century. You then ascend the 32 steps (no lift) to the upper storey where there are two rooms that contain more of the Museum's artwork, the Chapel and the Sacristy that also contains more artwork. The Museum pieces and the Chapel showcase the best of Sienese artists from the 13th century and in particular from the 16th and 17th centuries. The small rectangular Chapel has a beautiful blue and gold coffered ceiling with a gold cherub in each square. On three sides there are wooden seats whose backs protrude a good way up the wall and above the wooden backs some magnificent 16th century frescoes that go all the way up the remaining space on the wall to meet the ceiling. There are eight large frescoes, three on either side of the long walls, one on the wall between the two windows that are at the front of the building and one above the very ornate marble and gold altar. There are a further two small frescoes, one either side of the large fresco behind the altar and four even smaller frescoes in each of the corners of the long walls, The frescoes which depict the Life of the Virgin were completed by noted Sienese artists Il Sodoma, Domenico Beccafumi and Girolamo del Pacchia. Some of the other artwork is by Sano di Pietro, Pietro Lorenzetti and Jacopo della Quercia (of Fonte Gaia fame). Well worth a look if you are in Siena for a couple of days as the Acropoli ticket is valid for three days.