Florence : churches and cathedrals

BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE AND MUSEO DELL'OPERA DI SANTA CROCE
This Franciscan basilica was begun in 1295 to plans by Arnolfo di Cambio. It contains countless artworks, including Giotto's famous frescoes in the Peruzzi and Bardi chapels, and it is universally famous as the final resting place of several great Italians. The most important monuments include the tomb of Alfieri by Canova, the tomb of Leonardo Bruni by Rossellino and the tomb of Carlotta Bonaparte by Bartolini. The Museo dell'Opera contains renowned artworks such as the "Crucifix" by Cimabue, frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi and Andrea Orcagna and the graceful Pazzi Chapel designed by Brunelleschi.
MUSEO DELL'OPERA DI SANTA CROCE
Piazza S. Croce 16 - Phone 055 2466105
WORKING DAYS: from 9.30 to 17.30
HOLIDAY DAYS: from 13 to 17.30
Admittance: € 4,00
BASILICA OF SANTA CROCE
Piazza S. Croce - Phone 055 2466105
WORKING DAYS: from 9.30 to 17.30
HOLIDAY DAYS: from 13 to 17.30
Admittance: € 4,00

CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY, MUSEO 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").
Bell Tower
Piazza Duomo - Phone +39 055 2302885
Working day: from 8.30 to 19.30
Holiday: from 8.30 to 19.30
Admittance: € 6,00
Dome
Piazza Duomo - Phone +39 055 2302885
Working day: from 8.30 to 19 - saturday from 8.30 to 17.40
Holiday: Closed
Closed on sunday - Admittance: € 6,00
Opera museum
Piazza Duomo 9 - Phone +39 055 2302885
Working day: from 9 to 19.30
Holiday: from 9 to 13.40
Admittance: € 6,00
Battistry
Piazza S. Giovanni - Phone +39 055 2302885
Working day: from 12 to 19
Holiday: from 8.30 to 14
Admittance: € 3,00
Closed froml 3.2.04 to 7.2.04

Cathedral of Saint Maria del Fiore
Piazza Duomo - Phone +39 055 2302885
Working day: from 10 to 17 - thurday from 10 to 16.30 - saturday from 10 to 16.45
Holiday: from 13.30 to 16.45
Admittance: free

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.

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.
MEDICI CHAPELS
P.za Madonna degli Aldobrandini - Phone +39 055 2388602
Working day: from 8.15 to 16.50
Holiday: sunday from 8.15 to 16.45 (1)
Closed: first and third monday of month - Admittance: € 6,00
BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO
Piazza S. Lorenzo - Phone +39 055 216634
Working day: from 10 to 17
Holiday: Closed
Admittance: € 2,5

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.

Saint Marco museum
Piazza S.Marco 1 - Phone +39 055 2388608
Working day: from 8.15 to 13.50 - saturday from 8.15 to 18.50
Holiday: from 8.15 to 19
Closed: second and fourth monday of month - Admittance: € 6,00

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.

BASILICA OF THE SS. ANNUNZIATA
P.za SS. Annunziata - Phone +39 055 266181
Working day: 7.30 to 12.30 and from 16 to 18.30
Holiday: 7.30 to 12.30 and from 16 to 18.30
Admittance: free

CHURCH AND MUSEUM OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLA
Begun in 1246 for Dominican friars, the church was completed in 1360. The white and green marble Gothic-Romanesque façade was completed by Leon Battista Alberti who designed the upper part. Inside the church there are splendid masterpieces including "The Trinity" by Masaccio, frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio in the Tornabuoni chapel, a Crucifix by Giotto and a wooden Crucifix by Brunelleschi. The Museo di Santa Maria Novella is adjacent to the church. Here you can admire the splendid Green Cloister frescoed by Paolo Uccello and his school. In the Chapter Room, known as the "Cappellone degli Spagnoli" is a famous fresco by Bonaiuto. Just a short distance from the church is the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, where perfumes, soaps and fragrances are made and sold in a Neogothic setting.
Contiguous to the church is the Museum of Saint Maria Novella Admittance, with the splendid Green Cloister frescoed from Paolo Uccello and its school. In the Capitolare Hall, called also the Cappellone of the Spanish, finds a famous fresco of A. Bonaiuto. Not distant from the church it is Druggist Workshop of Scent of Saint Maria Novel, where scents, soaps, essences are in sale in a neoghotic atmosphere.

Church of Saint Maria Novella
P.za S. Maria Novella - Phone +39 055 215918
Working day: from 9.30 to 17 - friday from 13 to 17
Holiday: from 13 to 17
Admittance: € 2,50
Museum of Saint Maria Novella
Piazza S.Maria Novella - Phone +39 055 282187
Working day: from 9 to 17
Holiday: from 9 to 14
Closed:Friday
Admittance: € 1,40

CHURCH OF SANTA TRINITA
This church, built in the second half of the 11th century, was enlarged and modified according to the Gothic style in the early 14th century. The pietra forte façade was made to designs by Buontalenti towards the end of the 16th century. The major artworks inside the church are the Sassetti Chapel with the fresco cycle depicting "Scenes from the Life of St. Francis of Assisi" and the panel painting of the "Adoration of the Shepherds" by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1483-86).

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. Inside the church we can find a wooden crucifix by Michelangelo. 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.

Holy Spirit Church
Piazza S. Spirito - Phone +39 055 210030
Working day: from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 16.00 to 17.30 - saturday from 16.00 to 17.30
Holiday: from 16.00 to 17.30
Closed on wednesday afternoon
Admittance: free
Holy Spirit supper room
Piazza S. Spirito 29 - Phone +39 055 287043
Working day: winter from 10.30 to 13.30
summer from 9 to 14
Holiday: winter from 10.30 to 13.30
summer from 9 to 14
Closed il monday - Admittance: € 2,20