Basilica of Santa Maria Novella Florence
The gothic church at Santa Maria Novella in Firenze
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is a Gothic church with beautiful stained glass in Piazza Santa Maria Novella opposite the Firenze train station.
Info & Tickets Santa Maria Novella |
|
| Location | Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 18, Firenze |
| Tickets |
Tip: Are you planning to visit many museums and palaces in Florence? Then we recommend the FirenzeCard. With this FirenzeCard you can visit dozens of attractions for 72 hours such as the Uffizi, Galleria dell'Accademia, Palazzo Vecchio and of course this Santa Maria Novella. |
| Hours |
|
| Dress code | Wear appropriate clothing in the church, including covered knees and no bare shoulders, sandals, or headgear. |
| Website | Official website |
The church inspired by Dante
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella was built between 1279 and 1357 by Dominican monks. It is a Gothic church in Piazza Santa Maria Novella opposite the train station of Florence. The church is best known for the beautiful stained glass windows in the Tornabuoni chapel.
The facade of the Santa Maria Novella
The most remarkable thing about the facade of the Santa Maria Novella is that you won't find the name of the church, but the name from the financier: Giovanni Rucellai. The lower part of the church is Romanesque and was fitted by Alberti in an otherwise classical facade in 1456-1470.
The interior
The interior of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is predominantly Gothic, but contains a number of beautiful frescoes. The most famous fresco is by Masaccio, who painted Trinity for this church. The Green Cloister, so named because Uccello's frescoes have a green base, and the Chapel of the Spaniards, used by Spanish courtiers of Eleonora of Toledo, are worth a visit because of Uccello's perspective paintings. The pillars of the nave are even closer together at the altar, so that the Santa Maria Novella church appears longer than it is.
The Basilica Santa Maria Novella Florence Italy
The beautiful altar and stained glass Capella Strozzi
Filippino Lippi was commissioned in 1487 by Filippo Strozzi to decorate the Strozzi family chapel in Santa Maria Novella. The subject of the paintings became the life of Saint Philip and John the Evangelist. The work was not completed until 1503, so the client did not experience this anymore. There are also frescoes inspired by Dante's La Divina Commedia.
Famous works of art in the church
In addition to the famous Strozzi chapel, the Santa Maria Novella church is also decorated with works by famous artists. Botticelli made a fresco that belongs to his early work, namely the Adoration of the Magi. Brunelleschi made The Crucifix in 1410-1425. Ghiberti designed Leonardo Da Vinci's tombstone in 1423. The stained-glass windows are by Andre Bonaiuto. Vasari made a painting on the altar, the Madonna of the Rosary.
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella tickets
Where is the Santa Maria Church in Florence?
Our readers say
4.8
(95.83%) 8
reviews
August 20, 2024
Simone: "We had a fantastic holiday in Florence city and Tuscany because of the interesting tips for sightseeing, tours and activities in Florence Italy."
