Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Siena

You're standing in front of Siena Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Start with the façade. White, red and greenish-black marble, crowded with prophets, scrolling leaves and Bible scenes. The lower statues were designed by Giovanni Pisano, who gave them exaggerated poses so you could read them from far away. Almost every statue you see here is a copy, by the way. The originals are kept in the museum next door. Up top, three big mosaics shine in the sun. They were only made in the nineteenth century, in Venice.