Greetings!
Visited 2 churches today: Basilica Santuario della ss. Annunziata and Basilica of San Lorenzo. I also visited the Medici Tome.
Basilica Annunziata: The appearance of the cathedral was unassuming (no flying buttresses or anything like that), but the inside was absolutly stunning! When I walked in, there were approx. 8 frescos on the walls around the entrance, all dated about 600 years ago. Inside the catheral was an ongoing mass (I feel bad for the worshippers, they're constantly bothered by tourists and their cameras). The celiling was covered in magnificent carvings of angels and things in gold, and the sanctuary is stunning as well.
Basilica San Lorenzo: named after Lorenze de Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent, the favorite son), Basilica San Lorenzo is the earliest documented church in Florence and was consencrated in 393. There was a fee to get in, 2.50 Euro, I suppose it's becuase it's one of the more famous churches in Florence. Inside the Catheral things looked very new, unlike Basilica Annunziata. The newness is due to the complete rebuilding of the church, commissioned to Michealangelo and Brunelleschi (and others) in 1418. The church floor plan is in the shape of a cross, and on the West side of the cross was a sarcaphogous done by Brunellesci of Giovanni de Medici (the oldest of all Medicis). The famous Brunelleschi dome can be seen on the West end, the octagonal mathematical discovery that benefited artists for generations. The rest of the Medici family tombs are embedded within the cathedral's "Medici Chapels", the resting place of among others, Lorenzo the Magnificent. The Chapel was commissioned to Michealangelo, the dome is identical to the West end of the Basilica. Within the Basilica is also a large wall fresco of the Anunciation done by Donatello. Also in the West end was another tomb with gorgeous scupltures dedicated to a martyr, the coffin was placed oppoite the sculptures and you can see inside the coffin to the skeleton (a very short saint) and the crown on his head and palms on his side (symbols of martyrdom (sp?), of a violent death etc).
My one woman tour was amazing. Florence is amazing. Can you imagine walking two feet out of your apartment, look up, and see art from over 600 years ago?
Tomorrow, the Accademia Museum, where I will have a date with the famous David, and Thursday, Uffizi Museum, Birth of Venus here I come! Will update soon.
Ciao!
Visited 2 churches today: Basilica Santuario della ss. Annunziata and Basilica of San Lorenzo. I also visited the Medici Tome.
Basilica Annunziata: The appearance of the cathedral was unassuming (no flying buttresses or anything like that), but the inside was absolutly stunning! When I walked in, there were approx. 8 frescos on the walls around the entrance, all dated about 600 years ago. Inside the catheral was an ongoing mass (I feel bad for the worshippers, they're constantly bothered by tourists and their cameras). The celiling was covered in magnificent carvings of angels and things in gold, and the sanctuary is stunning as well.
Basilica San Lorenzo: named after Lorenze de Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent, the favorite son), Basilica San Lorenzo is the earliest documented church in Florence and was consencrated in 393. There was a fee to get in, 2.50 Euro, I suppose it's becuase it's one of the more famous churches in Florence. Inside the Catheral things looked very new, unlike Basilica Annunziata. The newness is due to the complete rebuilding of the church, commissioned to Michealangelo and Brunelleschi (and others) in 1418. The church floor plan is in the shape of a cross, and on the West side of the cross was a sarcaphogous done by Brunellesci of Giovanni de Medici (the oldest of all Medicis). The famous Brunelleschi dome can be seen on the West end, the octagonal mathematical discovery that benefited artists for generations. The rest of the Medici family tombs are embedded within the cathedral's "Medici Chapels", the resting place of among others, Lorenzo the Magnificent. The Chapel was commissioned to Michealangelo, the dome is identical to the West end of the Basilica. Within the Basilica is also a large wall fresco of the Anunciation done by Donatello. Also in the West end was another tomb with gorgeous scupltures dedicated to a martyr, the coffin was placed oppoite the sculptures and you can see inside the coffin to the skeleton (a very short saint) and the crown on his head and palms on his side (symbols of martyrdom (sp?), of a violent death etc).
My one woman tour was amazing. Florence is amazing. Can you imagine walking two feet out of your apartment, look up, and see art from over 600 years ago?
Tomorrow, the Accademia Museum, where I will have a date with the famous David, and Thursday, Uffizi Museum, Birth of Venus here I come! Will update soon.
Ciao!
posted by J @ 9:06 AM
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