Description of the attraction
The Church of Santa Maria Novella was conceived and built by the Dominican monks Sisto da Firenze and Ristoro da Campi. Construction began in 1246 on the site of the 10th century Dominican chapel of Santa Maria delle Vine. In 1279, the naves were completed, and in the second half of the 14th century, Jacopo Talenti completed the Bell Tower and the Sacristia. The beautiful façade of the church is the result of a redesign undertaken by Leon Battista Alberti in the years 1456-1470. The talented architect created a magnificent portal and the entire upper part of the church with its clear rhythm of squares inlaid with marble.
The interior of the church is divided into three naves by pylons in the form of a bundle of columns, which are supported by huge arches with pointed vaults. The interior was renovated in the 16th century. This church houses many works of art from the XIV-XVI centuries by such masters as Vasari, Ghirlandaio, Brunelleschi, Giuliano da Sangallo, Rossellino, Ghiberti and many others.
Through the lattice gate you can go to the Romanesque Monastery Courtyard (1350) and then to the Big Monastery, surrounded by arched walls painted by Florentine artists of the 15th and 16th centuries. The green courtyard got its name from the green background of the Uccelo frescoes, which were badly damaged during the 1966 flood.
The Hall of the Chapter of the Monastery (Spanish Chapel) is a work of genius by Jacopo Talenti (1359). This chapel was intended for church services, which were attended by Eleanor Toledskaya, wife of Cosimo I, with her retinue. The chapel is decorated with frescoes by Andrea di Buonayuto (mid-14th century).
