Florence is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the world. Its architecture - proud, majestic, noble - attracts tourists from all over the world. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is undoubtedly one of the city's most striking landmarks.
Built in the 13-15 centuries, which is, in fact, the first city basilica, it is still in excellent condition, and Catholic services are held inside. In addition, the basilica is immortalized in literature - it is within its walls that the action of the famous "Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio begins, - both in music - the Italian composer Pupo has a song of the same name, - and in modern popular culture - for example, it is here that one of the scenes unfolds the famous computer game Assassin's Creed II.
Construction history
Once on the site of the now famous majestic church there was a small, modest Dominican chapel (or, as they were also called, the oratorium). She had the same name - Santa Maria Novella. But when, at the beginning of the 13th century, the territory officially belonged to the order of the Dominican monks, they decided that a larger temple should be built on the site of the prayer house, so that all novices could fit, and next to it there was also a monastery.
The work began in the middle of the 13th century, and finished - at the end of 15. Over more than two centuries, the majestic basilica, its naves, sacristy, bell tower has been built ... In 1420 the church was finally officially consecrated - and the first worshipers were drawn there. Subsequently, the temple was repeatedly completed, rebuilt and changed, but in general its original appearance remained unchanged.
As for the monastery, it is currently run by military organizations and is closed to tourists. But a small church first-aid kit (by the way, the oldest and most famous in all of Tuscany!) Is working with might and main, where various drugs, medicinal herbs, ointments, creams and other means are sold.
Especially popular are herbs for relieving stress, creams for cleansing, improving and rejuvenating the skin, various essential oils for massage and meditation practices. The queues here are always huge, there are a lot of people who want to buy something for their health, but the pharmacists are friendly and helpful, and what is more important, they know English well, so they can easily contact tourists.
Architecture
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is a real hodgepodge of architectural styles. Even initially, it was a graceful combination of soft, rounded Romanism and sharp, upward-looking Gothic. The Renaissance, the Renaissance, which is already more modern in its forms, also had a significant influence on the construction.
The facade was decorated in the style of the Tuscan Gothic, but then underwent some changes: the portal was rebuilt and faced with shiny, strict squares of black and white marble, laid out in a clear, almost mathematical order, in a prominent place were drawn in relief heraldic images of the Rucellai aristocratic family, to whom the church belonged at that time, and the naves were divided among themselves by rows of columns and high arches.
Timed admission ticket for Michelangelo's David - 16 €
Admission ticket to the Uffizi Gallery - 20 €
Uffizi Gallery: Priority Entrance € 40
Florence Cathedral: ticket with entry to the dome - 29 €
Entrance ticket and audio guide to Palazzo Vecchio - 19 €
Hop-on Hop-off tour. Ticket for 24, 48 or 72 hours - from 23 €
Leonardo da Vinci Museum: entrance ticket - 7 €
Tour to the Duomo with a guide and ascent to the top of the dome - 40 €
Entrance ticket to the Basilica of San Lorenzo - 8.50 €
Hot air balloon flight over Tuscany: Florence - 250 €
Interior
The temple is divided into three naves of equal size, between which huge columns rise in rows. Each nave is supported by a high vaulted arch. In principle, this is a fairly standard version of internal architecture, but with the beauty and scale of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, this takes on a special scope.
At the same time, experienced travelers note that, although the basilica is huge and beautiful, it is still quite modest: there are no pretentious gilded patterns, colorful paintings, rich mosaics. The main hall is large, spacious, light, filled with air. The ceilings are painted white and decorated with green marble that beautifully reflects the sun's rays. All decorations are noble and discreet, and the monastery courtyard seems quite small, cozy and almost homely.
The basilica is famous for the fact that there are many works of art from the 14th-16th centuries: the works of Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giorgio Vasari, Rossellino and other famous painters and sculptors. There are also several tombs with the reposed bishops and monks and a majestic altar with a bronze "Crucifixion" by the Florentine master Giovanni da Bologna.
Chapels and frescoes
There are five chapels in the basilica. They are located in a special way: three chapels - around the fourth, and the fifth - separately, in the monastery courtyard. Each chapel is a work of art and therefore deserves a separate mention.
The Gondi Chapel can be safely called the first - it was with it that the construction of the basilica began, all the other chapels, chapels and buildings were already growing around it. The oldest Byzantine frescoes in Florence have been preserved here, and Brunelleschi's Crucifixion is also located here. The surname of Gondi, by the way, although unknown to the layman, is familiar to everyone in Florence: this family was at one time the creditors of the Medici themselves.
The next chapel, also named after the Gaddi family of Florentine painters, is famous for its luxurious painted ceiling by Alessandro Allori. In the chapel of Strozzi di Mantova, there are the legendary frescoes "Paradise", "Last Judgment" and "Paradise", as if referring to the "Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri, also a native of Florence.
Another chapel, Strozzi, refers to the "Decameron" Boccaccio. It is here that at the beginning of the story seven girls and three young men meet to hide from the plague approaching Florence.
The fifth chapel is Pura, which means “pure”. This chapel has its own, special legend: they say that once Madonna herself appeared before mortal eyes to take two dirty children away to wash, hence the name.
As for the frescoes, there are indeed a lot of them in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Those that have a special artistic and historical value are fenced today, and explanatory signs hang nearby. These include the following frescoes:
- frescoes of the life of the Mother of God and John the Baptist, their author is not known for certain, but researchers are almost sure that this is the work of Michelangelo himself
- "Kingdom of Heaven" (the same ones that refer to Dante)
- the grandiose size "Holy Trinity" Masaccio
Apart from the frescoes, I would like to note the wonderful stained glass windows that adorn the basilica. The stained glass window "The Crowning of Our Lady" is especially beautiful: in clear weather, when the sun's rays penetrate through the glass and reflect the drawing on the walls and floor, it seems that the picture comes to life before our eyes.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The opening hours of the temple are as follows:
- • Mon-Thu 9.00.-17.30
- • Fri 11.00.-17.30
- • Sat 9.00.-17.00
- • Sun 13.00.-17.00
The price for visiting the basilica without a guided tour and guide is 3.5 euros. Children under five years old can enter for free, and students and seniors - with a significant discount: a ticket will cost only 2 euros. But, unfortunately, if you do not know Italian and are not ready to argue with the cashier in his native language, then this discount will hardly be made to you - you will have to pay the full cost of the ticket.
But as part of the excursion group, although you will have to pay more coins, you will be able to listen to a detailed story telling about the history, architecture, art objects and religious relics located in the basilica, and go inside without queuing. And the queues here at any time of the year and on any day of the week are simply huge!
Where is it located and how to get there
A funny pun, but the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is located in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, near the Santa Maria Novella train station. If you arrive in Florence by train, then this basilica is the first architectural landmark that will catch the eye of a tourist and will definitely not go unnoticed.
Here is the historical and cultural center of the city, its most famous and beautiful places, and the basilica stands in the midst of this ancient luxury. You can get here both by public transport and by taxi. The entrance to the basilica is located on the front side, from the facade that overlooks the square of the same name. Passing under the arch, the tourist enters the monastery courtyard, where he buys a ticket at the box office, and then continues on his way.
If you want to get around the entire basilica and take a good look at all its attractions, expect to spend at least 2-3 hours.
