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Florence By Area >> City Centre East

Churches

Badia Fiorentina

Via del Proconsolo
Tel. 055 234 45 45

Church Open: 8am-6pm Tue-Sat.
Cloister Open: 3-6pm Mon.

The abbey, one of Florence's oldest churches, was founded in 978 by Willa, the widow of Count Uberto of Tuscany. Their son, Count Ugo, was buried inside the church in 1001. His splendid tomb was carved by Mino da Fiesole and dates from 1469-81. Mino also carved the altarpiece and, in the right transept, the tomb of Bernardo Giugni, the Florentine statesman, with its fine effigy of Justice.

Duomo, Campanile and Baptistry

Piazza del Duomo
Tel. 055 230 28 85

Duomo Open: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat (to 3:30 Thursday, to 4:45 Saturday), 1:30-4:45 Sun.
Dome Open: 8:30am-7pm Mon-Sat (to 5:40 Sat).
Crypt Open: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat (to 3:30 Thu and 1st Sat of Month, to 4:45pm Sat).
Campanile Open: 8:30am-7:30pm daily.
Baptistry Open: noon-7pm Mon-Sat, 8:30-2pm Sun.
Closed: 1st Jan, 15th Aug & religious hols.

Set in the heart of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore- the Duomo, or cathedral of Florence- dominates the city with its enormous dome. Its sheer size was typical of Florentine determination to lead in all things, and to this day, no other building stands taller in the city. The Baptistry with its celebrated doors is one of Florence's oldest buildings, dating perhaps to the 4th century. In his capacity as city architect, Giotto designed the Campanile in 1334; it was completed in 1359, 22 years after his death.

Brunelleschi's Dome
Brunelleschi's revolutionary achievement was to build the largest dome of its time without scaffolding. As you climb the 463 steps to the top, you can see how an inner shell provides a platform for the timbers that support the outer shell. Bricks of varying size were set in a self-supporting herringbone pattern- a technique Brunelleschi copied from the Pantheon in Rome.

The Campanile
At 85m (276 ft), the Campanile is 6m (20 ft) shorter than the dome. It is clad in white, green and pink Tuscan marble.

Baptistry Ceiling
Colourful 13th century mosaics illustrating the Last Judgement are set above the large octagonal font where many famous Florentines, including Dante, were baptized.

The East Doors of the Baptistry
Lorenzo Ghilberti's celebrated doors were commissioned in 1401 to mark Florence's deliverance from the plague. Ghilberti was chosen after a competition involving seven leading artists, including Donatello and Brunelleschi. Ghilberti's and Brunelleschi's trial panels are so different from Florentine Gothic art of the time that they are often regarded as the first products of the Renaissance.

The "Gate of Paradise". Having spent 21 years on the North Doors, Ghiberti worked on the East Doors from 1424 to 1452. Michelangelo enthusiastically dubbed them the "Gate of Paradise". The original panels are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo; those on the Baptistry are copies.

Orsanmichele

Via dell' Arte della Lana
Tel. 055 28 49 44

Open: 10am-5pm Tues-Fri, 10am-7:30pm Sat & Sun.
Closed: 1st Jan, 1st May, 25th Dec.

The name is a corruption of Orto di San Michele, a former monastic garden. Orsanmichele was built in 1337 as a grain market, but was soon turned into a church. The open arcades become windows, and though these are now bricked in, the original Gothic tracery can still be seen. The outside walls have 14 niches, each holding a statue of the patron saint of one of Florence's major Arti (guilds).
The interior has two parallel naves. To the right is an extraordinary 1350's altar by Andrea Orcagna. It is covered in cherubs and carved reliefs and encrusted with coloured marble and glass.

Santa Croce

Piazza di Santa Croce
Tel. 055 24 66 105

Open: 9:30am-5:30pm daily (from 1pm Sun). Ticket office closes at 5pm. No visits during mass.
Mass: 8am, 9am (not Aug), 6pm Mon-Sat; 8am, 9:30am, 11am, noon, 6pm Sun and relig hols.

The magnificent Gothic church of Santa Croce (1294) contains the tombs of many famous Florentines, including Michelangelo and Galileo. The spacious, airy interior is enhanced by the radiant frescoes of Giotto and his gifted pupil, Taddeo Gaddi, painted early in the 14th century. The Arnolfo and Brunelleschi Cloisters provide visitors with fine examples of Renaissance architectural precision, and a moment of peace and tranquillity during their tour. The rest of the monastic buildings ranged around the cloister form a museum of religious painting and sculpture.

Key Features:
- Galileo's Tomb
- Michelangelo's Tomb
- Cimabue's Crucifixion
- Cappella de' Pazzi
- Tomb of Leonardo Bruni
- Fresco by Gaddi in Baroncelli Chapel

Santo Stefano al Ponte

Piazza Santo Stefano al Ponte
Tel: 055 22 58 43
Phone to check opening times.

St Stephen "by the bridge", dating to 969, is so called because of its close proximity to the Ponte Vecchio. The Romanesque façade, dating to 1233, is its most important architectural feature. Florentines, however, know the church better as a venue for some top quality orchestral concerts.

St. Regis

Westin

Hotel Kraft

Hotel Adler

Mediterraneo