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Adjoining the cathedral is the Piccolomini library, housing precious illuminated choir books and frescoes painted by the Umbrian Bernardino di Betto, called Pinturicchio, probably based on designs by Raphael. This was built in his honour by his nephew Francesco Piccolomini - latterly (very briefly) Pope Pius III - but was never, as originally planned, filled with his books because the family flogged them all off.Bust of Pope Pius II (Aeneus Sylvius Piccolomini) in the Sala

delle Arti Liberali in the Vatican. Attributed to Paolo di Taccone

From a religious viewpoint Pope Pius II took care of restoring several churches in Siena, either when he was a cardinal or after his papal election, but the main gift he made to Siena was the canonization of St. Catherine.

In the recently restored Piccolomini Library Pinturicchio's fresco cycle is a rare example of a unified decoration of the early sixteenth century. Well-suited to Pinturicchio's skills and to a somewhat provincial Siena, his lyric style fits comfortably into the medieval setting of the Cathedral.

The subject matter concerns incidents in the life of Pius II, the Sienese pope and humanist, an unusually complete program for someone neither a saint nor a ruler.

Enea Silvio Piccolomini Presents Frederick III to Eleonora of Portugal

Homage to Pope Eugenius IV in the Name of Emperor Frederick III

From a religious viewpoint Pope Pius II took care of restoring several churches in Siena, either when he was a cardinal or after his papal election, but the main gift he made to Siena was the canonization of St. Catherine.

The Canonization of Catherine of Siena by Pope Pius II

The source for the ten episodes from the life of Pius II was Pius II's autobiography, the famous Commentarii, written between 1462 and 1464.

In addition to being the official life story of a pope, it is a fascinating political and historical chronicle.

The narratives are illustrated with descriptive clarity, the figures precisely drawn, the unatmospheric landscape bright and sharply defined.

The Coronation of Pope Pius III, 1509, Entrance to the Piccolomini Library

Enea Piccolomini Leaves for the Council of Basel

Pope Pius II at the Congress of Mantua

Enea Piccolomini as an Ambassador to the Court of James I of Scotland

The donor of the library and its furnishings was Francesco Todeschini (1439-1503) who wished to create a monument to his family and a memorial to his mother's brother Enea Silvio Piccolomini who had served as Pope Pius II from 1458 to 1464.

In 1460 Pius II elevated Todeschini to the rank of cardinal and permitted him to assume the Piccolomini name and the family's coat of arms.

In 1503 Francesco succeeded Pope Alexander VI as Pius III but his reign was brief, he died twenty-six days later.

Pope Pius II Arrives in Ancona

Enea Silvio is Elevated to Cardinal

Located in the northern aisle is the Piccolomini Altar, which was started in 1481 by Andrea Bregno. Between 1501-1504 Michelangelo created the four lower statues, which depicted Saints Gregory, Paul, Peter and Pius.

Aeneas Piccolomini is crowned poet laureate (with a Laurel Wreath) by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III in 1442

The Coronation of Enea Silvio Piccolomini as Pope Pius II

His main worry was the growing Muslim threat: he even thought to convert Sultan Mehmet II and he wrote a letter to him in which, in return for his conversion, he offered him the title of Roman emperor (but it is generally thought the letter was never sent). He then called on the Christian kings to join efforts to retake Constantinople from the Ottomans and was prepared to personally lead this sort of crusade. To show he meant what he was preaching in 1464 he went to Ancona, the assembly point of the expedition, to vainly wait for the arrivals of the troops and of the Venetian fleet which should have carried them to Greece.He passed away in mid August when he realized his dream would never come true.

Pinturicchio, Self Portrait, detail from The Annunciation, ca. 1500–01, fresco in the Baglioni Chapel, Santa Maria

Maggiore, Spello

Sound: Taizé – Nada te turbePictures: Daniela Iacob & InternetArangement: Sanda Foişoreanu