|
Florence apartments - What to see in
Florence San Giovanni area
»
Italian-Tourism.com »
Florence guide »
San Giovanni area in Florence
|
 |
 |
CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY, MUSEUM DELL'OPERA DEL DUOMO
Santa Maria del Fiore, the Gothic cathedral erected over the ancient
basilica of Santa Reparata, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio who began
construction in 1296. Brunelleschi completed it in 1436 with the elegant
dome, the inside of which was entirely frescoed by Vasari and Zuccari.
The final phase in the construction of the cathedral, that is the
completion of the façade, dates from the mid-19th century.
To the right of the cathedral rises the Bell Tower, or Campanile,
designed by Giotto in 1334. The square tower is covered with red, green
and white marble inlays, decorated with panels and carvings, and made
graceful by double- and triple-windows.
Opposite the Cathedral stands the green and white marble Baptistery of
San Giovanni (1128), a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque
architecture. The interior of the dome is decorated with mosaics. The
splendid bronze doors (including the Door of Paradise) were made by
Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses artworks from Santa Maria del
Fiore, the Baptistery and the Campanile, including sculptures that had
been made for the cathedral façade. The most important works in the
museum are by Michelangelo ("Pietà"), Donatello ("Mary Magdalen",
"Cantoria"), Arnolfo di Cambio ("Boniface VIII"), Luca della Robbia
("Cantoria").
CHURCH OF ORSANMICHELE
Originally this building, a loggia designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (1209),
was a granary and market. Only later did it become a house of worship:
the loggia arcades were closed off by Simone Talenti and the exterior
embellished with Florentine Gothic sculptures and ediculas.
PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI
This is the most typical example of privately commissioned Renaissance
architecture. Cosimo the Elder commissioned Michelozzo to design a
palace in 1444. Inside there is an elegant courtyard, a small Italian
garden and the famous chapel with Benozzo Gozzoli's fresco the
"Procession of the Magi" (1459).
BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO AND THE MEDICI CHAPELS
The original church that stood on this site was consecrated by Ambrose,
Bishop of Milan in 393; Cosimo the Elder had it enlarged and remodeled
by Brunelleschi. Inside there are works by Rosso Fiorentino, Desiderio
da Settignano, Donatello and Bronzino. The church is flanked by the
splendid, square-shaped Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi and the New
Sacristy, by Michelangelo (1524), that houses the Medici family tombs.
Along with the Baroque Chapel of the Princes, the New Sacristy comprises
the museum of the Medici Chapels. To the left of the church is the
Laurentian Library, also designed by Michelangelo, by order of the
Medici family who wanted a place to conserve their fine collections of
books, papyri and manuscripts.
Not far from the San Lorenzo complex is the Mercato Centrale, or central
market, a fine example of late 19th century steel and glass
architecture.
MUSEO FIRENZE COM'ERA AND MUSEO DI PREISTORIA
The Museo e Istituto Fiorentino di Preistoria and the Museo Storico
Topografico "Firenze com'era" are situated in the former convent of the
Oblate Nuns, whose buildings were once part of the Arcispedale di Santa
Maria Nuova, the city's oldest (and still functioning) hospital that was
founded by Folco Portinari in 1286.
GALLERY OF THE ACCADEMIA
This is one of the best known museums in Florence, because it houses
famous sculptures by Michelangelo, including the "David". There are also
many paintings, collected by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold to help the
young artists enrolled in the Accademia d'Arte, which is still next door
to the gallery.
OPIFICIO DELLE PIETRE DURE
The Opificio was founded by Ferdinando de' Medici in 1588. It is an
important center for the restoration of inlays and mosaics, and it has a
fine display of inlays, studies and drawings.
CONVENTO DI SAN MARCO
Michelozzo rebuilt and expanded this convent for Cosimo the Elder, and
it still contains the splendid frescoes that Beato Angelico painted to
decorate the monks' cells. Inside there is also a beautiful library that
Michelozzo designed in 1448; this, the first public library of the
Renaissance, contains many fine illuminated manuscripts.
The church of San Marco that stands alongside the convent was redesigned
by Michelozzo.
UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
The entrance to several of the University's scientific museums are on
Via La Pira: Geology and Paleontology, Mineralogy and Lithology and the
Botanical Gardens, or "Giardino dei Semplici", founded by the Medici and
then enriched under the Lorraine rule; the Botanical Museum, on the
other hand, dates from the 19th century.
CLOISTER DELLO SCALZO AND CENACLE OF SANT'APOLLONIA
The Cloister "Dello Scalzo" is located in Via Cavour; it contains
monochrome frescoes by Andrea del Sarto portraying "Scenes from the Life
of St. John the Baptist" and two "Allegories of Virtue". The entrance to
the cenacle of Sant'Apollonia is on Via XXVII Aprile; on the back wall
there is a "Last Supper" by Andrea del Castagno.
BASILICA OF THE SS. ANNUNZIATA
Founded in 1250 and then expanded over the centuries, this is one of the
most important churches in Florence. The Cloister of the Voti and the
Cloister of the Morti contain frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Rosso
Fiorentino, Franciabigio and Pontormo. Inside the temple of the
Annunziata, designed by Michelozzo, there is an image of the Virgin Mary
that is considered miraculous.
SPEDALE DEGLI INNOCENTI
This building was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with a fine loggia
decorated with glazed terracotta roundels by Andrea della Robbia.
Originally a foundling hospital, it hosts activities for children even
today, along with the Galleria dello Spedale that contains many fine
paintings such as the "Adoration of the Magi" by Ghirlandaio.
ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
This collection, begun by the Medici and continued by the Lorraine,
contains many important items related to Etruscan art and civilization
such as the "Chimera of Arezzo", the "Orator" and the "Minerva of
Arezzo", as well as several tombs that are in the garden. The Greek and
Egyptian sections are also quite noteworthy, in fact, this is one of the
major archaeological museums in Italy.
|
