Church
of Santa Maria Novella: the basilica/cloister complex is part
of the Dominican monastery, masterpiece of the Gothic and Renaissance
styles, which in the XIVth century was one of the most important religious
poles in Florence. In 1246, work began on the building of the church under
the supervision of the Dominican frairs Sisto and Ristoro, and then was
completed in 1360 by Jacopo Talenti with the construction
of the campanile and the sacresty. The facade, was completed later in
1470 by Leon Battista Alberti who extended the original
Romanesque/Gothic design of the lower part with Renaissance elements in
the upper part and with the elegant classic portal. He maintained the
black and white marble decorations which well harmonize with the architectural
scheme of the complex. Inside, a great masterpiece of the florentine Quattrocento:
the Trinity by Masaccio, fresco painted...
Church
of Ognissanti: founded by the Benedictine Order of Umiliati in
the 13th century, this ancient church was completly rebuilt in the 17th
together with the Cloister and the facade. Divided in two orders with
niches and windows, is one of the rare facade in baroque style in Florence.
Over the portal, the enamelled terracotta by Giovanni della Robbia
rappresenting the Coronation of Maria. Of the early church the medieval
Campanile in romanesque style remains which follows the model of that
of S. Maria Novella. The interior has a single nave with transept, and
contains many works of art, among which the frescoes by Botticelli,
David and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
The right arm of the transept leads to the Chapel where a round tombstone
on the pavement markes the burial-place of Botticelli. In the refectory
of the convent there is the splendid fresco painted in 1480 by Domenico
Ghirlandaio, the Last Supper, which inspired Leonardo
in painting that in Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan.....
Fortezza
da Basso: the 'fortress of San Giovanni', renamed 'da Basso'
to be distinguished from that of Belvedere, was built by the Medici
family in the 16th century when they returned to power in Florence. The design was of the architect Antonio SanGallo il Giovane, a pentagonal plant with powerful bastions. In the outskirts of the medieval city, this impregnable fortress was conceived as a defense against the danger of any political upheavals of the inhabitants. But it never suffered attacks and remained intact still our days.
Today the interiors of the Fortress da Basso have modernely restored pavillions and it is the main exhibition centre in Florence where important fairs and events take place (such as Pitti Immagine, Biennale). A part of the fortress host the estoration laboratories of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
