Basilica di Santa Maria Novella (Basilica of Santa Maria Novella), Florence
Built in the 13th century, Santa Maria Novella is, chronologically, the first grand basilica in Florence, and stands as the city's principal Dominican church. Within its walls, along with the adjacent cloister and chapter house, lie a multitude of art treasures and funerary monuments. Especially famous are frescoes crafted by Gothic and early Renaissance masters, generously funded by prominent Florentine families, securing for themselves funerary chapels on consecrated ground.
The exterior showcases architectural elements inspired by antiquity, including the pediment and frieze; however, the upper portion introduces a novel and unprecedented design feature: S-curved scrolls. These scrolls, or variations thereof, can be found in churches across Italy and owe their origins to the innovative design of Santa Maria Novella, which ingeniously addressed the challenge of transitioning from wide to narrow storeys.
Beyond its architectural splendor and captivating cloisters, the basilica houses an array of artistic treasures, including frescoes, statues, paintings, and wooden crosses. Notable among them is the world-famous fresco "The Holy Trinity" by Masaccio, which had a profound impact on Florentine painting, inspiring future generations with its groundbreaking use of perspective and mathematical proportions. Additionally, the pulpit designed by Brunelleschi himself is of historical significance, as it was from this very pulpit that the first verbal attack against Galileo Galilei was launched, ultimately leading to his indictment.
Be sure not to overlook the Cappella Strozzi di Mantova, situated at the end of the left transept. Adorned with frescoes inspired by Dante's "Divine Comedy", this chapel portrays the Last Judgment (on the back wall, featuring a portrait of Dante), Hell (on the right wall), and Paradise (on the left wall). Executed between 1350 and 1357, these remarkable artworks vividly bring to life the essence of Dante's renowned literary masterpiece.
The exterior showcases architectural elements inspired by antiquity, including the pediment and frieze; however, the upper portion introduces a novel and unprecedented design feature: S-curved scrolls. These scrolls, or variations thereof, can be found in churches across Italy and owe their origins to the innovative design of Santa Maria Novella, which ingeniously addressed the challenge of transitioning from wide to narrow storeys.
Beyond its architectural splendor and captivating cloisters, the basilica houses an array of artistic treasures, including frescoes, statues, paintings, and wooden crosses. Notable among them is the world-famous fresco "The Holy Trinity" by Masaccio, which had a profound impact on Florentine painting, inspiring future generations with its groundbreaking use of perspective and mathematical proportions. Additionally, the pulpit designed by Brunelleschi himself is of historical significance, as it was from this very pulpit that the first verbal attack against Galileo Galilei was launched, ultimately leading to his indictment.
Be sure not to overlook the Cappella Strozzi di Mantova, situated at the end of the left transept. Adorned with frescoes inspired by Dante's "Divine Comedy", this chapel portrays the Last Judgment (on the back wall, featuring a portrait of Dante), Hell (on the right wall), and Paradise (on the left wall). Executed between 1350 and 1357, these remarkable artworks vividly bring to life the essence of Dante's renowned literary masterpiece.
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Basilica di Santa Maria Novella (Basilica of Santa Maria Novella) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica di Santa Maria Novella (Basilica of Santa Maria Novella)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour
Located in the very heart of historic Florence, the Duomo area is deservedly considered the city鈥檚 religious and civic center, replete with numerous landmarks. Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the two most important squares in the city, are steeped in history and the sights and activities found here are truly endless.
The most prominent of these, undoubtedly, is the breathtaking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The most prominent of these, undoubtedly, is the breathtaking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of Arno river, also called Oltrarno ("Beyond the Arno"), is a quieter place but not less interesting. Here you can find the Pitti Palace whose collection of paintings is second only to the Uffizi, and the vast Boboli Gardens once enjoyed by the Medici and the royal family. One of the first and most important examples of "Italian Gardens", they later served as... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures
The 鈥淐radle of the Renaissance,鈥� Florence is one of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
The city of Florence was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for veteran soldiers. It was built initially in the style of an army garrison 鈥� with main streets intersecting at today's Piazza della Repubblica. The original name, Fluentia, stems from its location between the two rivers; later, it was renamed Florentia, which means 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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