  We present a detailed discussion of the spectral and spatial components of
NGC 5506, based on XMM-Newton, Chandra and BeppoSAX observations. The overall
picture consists of a nucleus absorbed by cold gas with column density of
$\approx10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and surrounded by a Compton-thick torus, whose
existence is inferred by a cold reflection component and an iron K$\alpha$
line. On a much larger scale, a photoionized gas extended on $\approx350$ pc
reprocesses the nuclear radiation, producing a soft excess and ionized iron
lines. Noteworthy, we find no evidence for the presence of the accretion disc.
