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Florence apartments - What to see in
Florence Santo Spirito area
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Santo Spirito area in Florence
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CHURCH OF SANTO SPIRITO
The district of Santo Spirito in Oltrarno, the picturesque neighborhood
populated by craftsmen, restorers and antique dealers, gets its name
from the Church of Santo Spirito. Designed by Brunelleschi and begun in
1444, it is one of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance
architecture. The interior, in the shape of a Latin cross with three
naves, is pure Brunelleschian style. The sacristy was built to plans by
Giuliano da Sangallo. Next to the church is the Cenacle of Santo
Spirito, where there is still a fragment of the "Last Supper" by Andrea
Orcagna.
BRANCACCI CHAPEL
This chapel is famous throughout the world for its frescoes by Masaccio,
a masterpiece of Renaissance painting; it is located in the 13th century
church of Santa Maria del Carmine. Masolino was commissioned to do the
frescoes and he began work in 1424 with the help of Masaccio. When
Masaccio left Florence, the frescoes were completed after 1480 by
Filippino Lippi.
MUSEO ZOOLOGICO LA SPECOLA
This museum contains a rich zoological collection of both existing and
extinct animals, but above all it is famous for its collection of 18th
century anatomical wax figures by Gaetano Zumbo: it is considered the
finest in the world for beauty and quality.
CHURCH OF SANTA FELICITA'
Inside this church, in the Capponi chapel is Pontormo's painting of the
"Deposition" (1525-28) which is considered one of the masterpieces of
Florentine Mannerism.
PITTI PALACE AND THE BOBOLI GARDENS
This palace was commissioned by Luca Pitti in 1448. The original plans,
attributed to Brunelleschi, called for a much smaller building than the
one we see now: it was enlarged in 1549 when ownership passed to the
Medici family. The beautiful courtyard by Ammannati dates from that
period. The Pitti Palace was enlarged and modified many times over the
centuries: it was the seat of the Lorraine dynasty and, when Florence
was capital of Italy, of the Court of Savoia. Today it houses several
museums and galleries the most important of which is the Palatine
Gallery, containing the private collections of the Grand Dukes, with
masterpieces dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, including paintings
by Titian, Giorgione, Raphael, and Rubens. The other museums are the
Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery, the
Carriage Museum, the Porcelain Museum, the Contini Bonacossi Collection,
the Royal Apartments and the Apartment of the Duchess of Aosta.
One of the most beautiful Italian gardens extends on the Boboli hill
between the Pitti Palace and Forte Belvedere. It was designed by Tribolo
in 1549 and then enhanced by Ammanati and Buontalenti. The 16th century
fortress, Forte Belvedere, dominates the gardens and the entire city; it
was designed by Buontalenti for the Grand Duke Ferdinando I.
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO AND SAN MINIATO AL MONTE
Piazzale Michelangelo was built in 1869 to plans by Giuseppe Poggi; it
offers a splendid panorama of the city. In the middle of this plaza
stand bronze copies of Michelangelo's "David" and the four statues on
the tombs in the Medici Chapels.
Just above Piazzale Michelangelo is the basilica of San Miniato al
Monte. Its green and white marble façade is considered one of the finest
examples of the Florentine Romanesque style. Built between the 11th and
13th centuries, it contains fine artworks such as the chapel of the
"Crucifixion" by Michelozzo and the chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal
both decorated by Luca della Robbia and the splendid frescoes by
Spinello Aretino, depicting "Scenes from the Life of St. Benedict".
MUSEO BARDINI
This museum contains the fine collection of art objects bequeathed to
the city by the antique dealer Stefano Bardini. The many masterpieces of
painting and sculpture include works by Nicola Pisano, Tino da Camaino,
Pollaiolo and Donatello.
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