San Sebastiano in Vallepiatta, Siena

San Sebastiano in Vallepiatta is an ancient church next to Piazzeta della Selva in Siena, Italy. It is located in the Contrada della Selva.

Church of San Sebastiano in Vallepiatta
Rear of church is found below the cathedral at right.
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Siena, Italy
Location
Location	Siena, Italy
Geographic coordinates
Architecture
Style	Renaissance, Baroque
Groundbreaking	1493
Completed	17th century

Church construction began in 1492 and completed in 1656, under the patronage of the guild of weavers (Tessitori). The interior is frescoed by 16th century painters, depicting Dream of St Irene by Stefano Volpi, a Glory of St Sebastian and a Virtue and Angels by Sebastiano Folli, a Stories of St Sebastian by Pietro Sorri and Rutilio Manetti. On the main altar there is a Spoliation of Christ by Luigi Ademollo, and a 15th-century Crucifix, which legend holds was donated to the Compagnia di San Giovanni Battista della Morte (Company of St John the Baptist of the Death) by St Bernard himself.

Built in the shape of a Greek cross, it has a cupola with a cylindrical tambor. The design is attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Most of the brick façade has only a sliver of a cornice with architrave in travertine marble, added in 1545–1550. The interior was frescoed in the 16th century by Giovanni Paolo Pisani, Raffaello Vanni, and Astolfo Petrazzi. The main altarpiece is a bas-relief in stucco and terracotta depicting the venerated Madonna della Selva, and is attributed to Francesco di Giorgio Martini.

Sources

• Rete Toscana Luoghi della Fede.
• The Medici, Michelangelo, and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence