In 1221 the Dominican Order received land in Florence arounf the old 9th century oratory of Santa Maria delle Vigne.
The monks have decided to build the cloisters and the new long church on the spot of the former one, hence the name of the new church – Santa Maria Novella.
Designed by two Dominican friars, Fra Sisto Fiorentino and Fra Ristoro da Campi, the main church has been build between years 1279 and 1357.
In half of the 15th century a local textile merchant Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai commisioned Leone Battista Alberti to design and finish the facade, which has been completed in 1470.
To the existing Gothic lower part of the facade Albergti added frieze, round window and two flanking S-curved scrolls to masque the side roof.
The design of the facade bases on simple geometric figures (Squares and circles) and proportions, and has been repeated by many Italian Renaissance achitects all over the country.
Above the entrance to the church one can see coats of arms of Rucellai family – the sails , and the sun – the symbol of Dominicans.
The Gothic interior of the church has been remodeled later on by several architects, including Giorgio Vasari ( 1567 ) and Ignazio Danti ( 1572), but still many of the chapels located on both sides of 100m long main nave remain its original character with 14th ant 15th centuries stained-glass windows and frescoes.
The chancel (Tornabuoni chapel) features the famous frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his apprentice the young Michelangelo (1485-1490) . The episodes from The Life of John the Baptist and The Life of Saint Mary
are set in beautiful Renaissance architecture painted according to the new rules of perspective, and the figures are of aristocracy families from Florence with late 15th century outfits.
The 16th centyry bronze crucifix on the main altar is the work of Giambologna.
In Sacristy, at the end of the left aisle, there is an enormous painted Crucifix with the Madonna and John the Evangelist, an early work by Giotto.
Near sacristy there is the Cappella Strozzi di Mantova, with frescoes inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy: Last Judgment (with a portrait of Dante), Hell and Paradise by Nardo di Cione and his brother Andrea Orcagna (1350-1357).
The right side of the main altar is occupied by the Filippo Strozzi Chapel with the series of frescoes completed in 1502 by Filippino Lippi, depicting the life of Philip and James the Apostles.
In the Strozzi chapel Giovanni Boccaccio starts his first tale of the Decamerone, when seven ladies decide to leave the town.
The former chapterhouse of the monastery was lated assigned by Cosimo I to his wife Eleonora of Toledo, and became known as Cappellone degli Spagnoli ( Spanish Chapel).
The latin name of the order Domini canes means literaly Dogs of Lord, and so the frescoes in the Spanisch Chapel reppressent the monks as greyhounds protecting
the lost sheep from evil.
Among other artist contributed to the church Santa Maria Novella in Florence are Masaccio (The Trinity), Bronzino (the Miracle of Jesus) Sandro Botticelli and Filippo Brunelleschi.
The church is opened for visitors:
Mon- Sat 7-11.30 and 15.30-18.00
Sun 8-12 and 15.30-17
The part of the cloisters is changed into the museum
opened : Sat-Thu 9-14
phone:
210113 ( church )
282187 ( museum )
Guides: florence
