The first stop on the itinerary is the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella<\/strong>, one of the most important churches in the city. Located near the railway station of the same name, it was founded by monks of the Dominican Order in the first half of the 13th century. The first chapel on the west side of the high altar, the Gondi Chapel, is famous for housing Brunelleschi’s Crucifix, a polychrome wood sculpture dated between 1410 and 1415. According to Vasari, this work of art was carved in response to Donatello’s wooden Crucifix (kept in the Bardi Chapel in Santa Croce), to show him how the figure of Christ on the cross should be realised without sinning by too crude realism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second stop is the Basilica of San Lorenzo<\/strong>, the oldest cathedral in Florence. Renovated in the Romanesque period, it was rebuilt again in the 15th century at the behest of Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici, who entrusted the task to Brunelleschi, who, however, died in 1446 without being able to complete it. In the complex is the Old Sacristy, one of Brunelleschi’s masterpieces and of early Renaissance architecture in general. In the work (one of the few that Brunelleschi personally managed to complete) the language of ancient Rome dialogues with a new harmony of forms and geometry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next stop is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (better known as Duomo di Firenze), topped by Brunelleschi’s fascinating Dome<\/strong>, one of the finest works of human endeavour. Built between 1420 and 1436, it is still the undisputed symbol of Florence in the world. Once the largest dome in the world, today it holds the record for the largest masonry vault on the planet. It has a diameter of 45.50 metres and rises on a drum placed 54 metres above the ground, reaching a height of 116 metres. To realise it, Brunelleschi designed extraordinary construction machinery and created the first building site of the modern era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The itinerary then continues to Piazza Filippo Brunelleschi, where the Rotunda of Santa Maria degli Angeli<\/strong> is located, the first centrally planned building of the entire Renaissance that was originally part of the Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It was designed and started by Brunelleschi in 1432 but work had to be interrupted in 1437 when the Republic diverted funds to support the war against Lucca. Only five centuries later did the architect Rodolfo Sabatini restore it and complete the dome following Brunelleschi’s design. Today it houses the Medici Museum, entirely dedicated to the history of the famous house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the immediate vicinity of the Rotonda, specifically in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, is the Ospedale degli Innocenti<\/strong>, a masterpiece combining elegance and symmetry and one of the very first examples of Renaissance architecture. The imposing building was built to a design by Brunelleschi to house the Istituto degli Innocenti (inaugurated in 1445), one of the oldest public institutions in Italy dedicated to the care, education and protection of children (which still stands today in its original spaces). Inside the hospital is the Museo degli Innocenti, which houses the Institute’s immense history and its complex artistic and monumental heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sixth stop is the Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture in Italy, also known as the Temple of Italic Glories for the numerous burials of artists, writers and scientists. Inside the first cloister of the basilica is the Pazzi Chapel<\/strong>, one of the earliest and most representative pieces of Renaissance architecture. Brunelleschi drew up the design between the late 1420s and the following decade, and directed the work from its start in 1443 until his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few steps away from the Basilica of Santa Croce is the Bargello National Museum<\/strong>. It is housed in the ancient Palazzo del Podest\u00e0 and contains sculptures, bronzes, majolica, waxes, enamels, medals, ivories, tapestries, seals and textiles, mostly from the Medici collections, suppressed convents and private collections. Among the exhibits is a gilded bronze tile by Brunelleschi depicting the Sacrifice of Isaac. It was made by the artist for the competition to decorate the north door of the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Brunelleschi was a finalist with Lorenzo Ghiberti, but the latter won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The eighth and penultimate stop is the Palagio dei Capitani di Parte Guelfa<\/strong>, one of the most representative palaces of Florentine public life between the 14th and 15th centuries. It derives its name from its function as the headquarters of the so-called ‘Guelph Party’ in the years when the city was divided between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. At the entrance on Via del Capaccio is the part attributed to Brunelleschi. The largest room in the palace, designed by Brunelleschi with walls punctuated by fluted pilasters with capitals, impresses with its large glass surface and coffered ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, the itinerary ends with a visit to the Basilica of Santo Spirito<\/strong>, together with San Lorenzo one of the great religious and artistic monuments of 15th-century Florence. It is located on the left bank of the Arno River and was designed by Brunelleschi, although he died two years after construction began. Studied by Leonardo and admired by Michelangelo, it was described by Bernini as ‘the most beautiful church in the world’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo gallery (1) \u00a9 Basilica of San Lorenzo | (2) \u00a9 Visit Tuscany | (3) \u00a9 Opera di Santa Croce<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Filippo Brunelleschi (Florence, 1377-1446) was an architect, engineer, sculptor, goldsmith and stage designer. Together with Donatello and Masaccio he initiated the extraordinary season of the Renaissance. Like Donatello in sculpture and Masaccio in painting, Brunelleschi revolutionised the style of architecture. Giorgio Vasari wrote of him: ‘He was given to us from heaven to give new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16369,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[236],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mamaisonservices.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/1-Sagrestia-Vecchia-\u00a9-Basilica-di-San-Lorenzo-1024x766.jpg\")
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