The church of Santa Maria Novella is known for its light openwork facade resembling an inlaid casket . The interior of a considerable number of works of art: Greek murals and marble tombstones . The precursor of the church of Santa Maria Novella was a small chapel, located here, and called Santa Maria delle Vigne . In the beginning of the 13th century, the monks of the Dominican order decided to build a monastery and a new church . A few years construction began, in 1279 the nave was already erected, and in the year 1360 the sacristy and the bell tower in the Romanesque-Gothic style were completed . The church was built long enough and was consecrated only in 1420 .

The temple is being rebuilt in the middle of the fifteenth century by the order of the local merchant Giovanni di Paolo Ruchelai. The construction is led by the architect Leon Battista Alberti, who rebuilds the facade of the church, creates a beautiful portal. It is he who owns the idea of ​​decorating the church with squares inlaid with white and black marble. In the decoration there are heraldic symbols of the Ruchelai family, whose representatives once ordered the construction of this church.

The interior of the temple was also changed in the 16th century. Today, you can see many works of art from the 14th to 16th centuries. Among these monuments are works of art such as: the tomb of Bishop Fiesole, the terracotta bust of St. Antoninus, the monument to the blessed Villana, the tomb of Philip Strozzi and many others. The chapels of Maggiore and Gondi deserve special mention.

From the temple one can get to the monastic courtyard in the Romanesque style. Once the monastery wall adorned with frescoes by Paolo Uccello on the stories from the Old Testament, but in time they were transferred to the refectory. If you pass through the Monastery of the Dead, you can get to the Great Monastery, which is surrounded by walls with unique paintings of Florentine artists of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Basilica is located in the western part of the old town at: Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

Phone: + ( 39 55) 21 92 57.

The church is open for visits from 9-00 and on Sundays from 12-00 am

Entrance - 5 EUR (September 2014)

Santa Maria Novella

View of Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella in the evening

Painting, Santa Maria Novella

Altar, Santa Maria Nova Vella

Reviews of Santa Maria Novella (2)

Evaluation 10

Masterpiece! December 03, 2014

Sssmoscow

was here in April 2012

I would not advise visiting this very worthy landmark, so to speak, "along the way". To visit Santa Maria Novella, you need at least 2 hours, since this is a very large complex and requires a calm, unhurried mood for a full-fledged experience. And by the way, it closes, in my opinion, at 17 o'clock, so visit should be planned in advance. Inside is very beautiful and takes time to enjoy the spectacle. Suddenly an infinite number of frescoes, stained glass, and as I understood later ... Read full review

Miracle near the station 03 December 2014

Igira

was here in December 2014

This beautiful church is located in such a place that if you arrive in Florence by train, you need to visit it first. Find it will be very simple, because going to the station square, it is impossible not to notice this grandiose complex. It is 5 minutes walk from the central station, whose name is identical to Santa Maria Novella. I've been to this city more than once and always with pleasure come there. This is one of my favorite places in Florence. You yourself will feel some kind of charming ... Read the whole review