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| FLORENCE HOMEPAGE » SANTA MARIA NOVELLA AREA » FLORENCE MONUMENTS |
Piazza Santa Maria Novella |
A network of small streets and wide shopping avenues converges on
Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where stands the homonymous
imponent Basilica of the late 13th century .
Santa
Maria Novella Basilica is the most important Gothic church
in Tuscany. It was built in 1246 by Domenican friars on the site
of the 10th-century Dominican oratory of S. Maria delle Vigne.
Santa Maria Novella |
The beautiful facade was remodelled between 1456 and 1470 by Leon
Battista Alberti who created the splendid portal, bordered by the
heraldic sails of the Rucellai family who commissioned the work.
The inside of the church, which is simply vast, has a number of
important art works by Vasari, Ghirlandaio, Masaccio, Pisano, Brunelleschi
and most of the important artists of the period.
Chiostro Verde |
Its Cloister, the Chiostro Verde, derives its name
by the dominant colour of the biblical frescoes by Paolo Uccello
(14th century). His workshop on the theme of “Genesis”
was badly damaged in the floods of 1966. At least, Uccello’s
“Diluvio Universale” was saved from destruction.
On the southern end of the square rises the Loggia di San
Paolo, the entrance to the Ospedale San Paolo dei Convalescenti,
something similar to Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti.
This Loggia was decored with terracottas by Giovanni della Robbia.
Loggia di San Paolo |
From the characteristic lanes of Via de Fossi, that house many interesting
shops selling antiques, statues and Florentine products, you will
arrive to the Church of Ognissanti that was
first erected between 1252 and 1255, and then reconstructed in baroque
style in the XVII - XVIII century.
Ognissanti |
The bell-tower only is still original. The façade done by
Matteo Nigetti in 1637 is one of the earliest examples of Florentine
Baroque. Ognissanti was the church of the merchant family “Vespucci”,
whose most famous member was Amerigo: inside the church there is
a fresco-painting by Domenico Ghirlandaio showing the whol e Vespucci
family. The refectory houses a number of works, including Botticelli's
Saint Augustine in his
American Church of Saint James |
Studio, and Domenico Ghirlandaio's Saint Jerome and one of his Last
Suppers.
One of the oldest constructions in Florence, is a gate that dates
back to 1285: Porta al Prato. During the XVI century, this gate
was lowered. It contains a fresco of the Madonna with the Child
and Saints ascribed to Michele di Ridolfo.
Interesting is the American Church of Saint James
an Episcopal Church, built in 1910 in the historic
Teatro Comunale |
gardens of the Orti Oricellari. St. James’ Church serves as
an information center and provides facilities for two libraries,
Alcoholics Anonymous groups, concerts and various community activities.
If you are interested on music, you can’t loose the prestigious
“Maggio Musicale Fiorentino” (one of the most important
european music festivals) represented in the Teatro Comunale.
In Autumn, in this theatre are represented lyrics and ballets; in
Winter, symphonic music.
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