{"id":667741,"date":"2022-03-08T15:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T12:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/?p=667741"},"modified":"2024-05-01T11:34:06","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T08:34:06","slug":"basilica-of-santa-maria-novella-in-florence-history-photo-description-opening-hours-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourism.com.de\/en\/basilica-of-santa-maria-novella-in-florence-history-photo-description-opening-hours-map\/","title":{"rendered":"Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence – history, photo, description, opening hours, map"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florence is one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities<\/a> in the world<\/a>. Its architecture – proud, majestic, noble – attracts tour<\/a>ists from all over the world. The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence<\/a> is certainly one of the most striking city<\/a> attractions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Construction history<\/a><\/h2>\n

Once upon a time, on the site of the now famous majestic church, there was a small, modest Dominican chapel (or, as they were also called, the oratory). 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<\/a> should be built on the site of the chapel to accommodate all the novices, and next to it, there was also a monastery.<\/p>\n

The work began in the middle of the 13th century, and was completed at the end of the 15th. For more than two centuries, the majestic basilica, its naves, sacristy, bell tower grew… 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 still remained unchanged.<\/p>\n

As for the monastery, it is currently under the jurisdiction of military organizations and is closed to tourists<\/a>. On the other hand, a small church first-aid kit is working with might and main (by the way, the oldest and most famous in all of Tuscany!), where various drugs, herbs, ointments, creams and other products are sold.<\/p>\n

Especially popular are herbs for stress relief, creams for cleansing, improving and rejuvenating the skin, various essential oils for massage and meditation practices. The queues here are always huge, there are many people who want to buy something for their health, but the pharmacists are friendly and kind, and what is more important, they know English well, so they can easily contact tour<\/a>ists.<\/p>\n

Architecture<\/h2>\n

\"Basilica<\/a><\/p>\n

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 romance and sharp, upward gothic. The Renaissance, the Renaissance, already more modern in its forms, had a conside<\/a>rable influence on the construction.<\/p>\n

The facade was decorated in the Tuscan Gothic style, but then underwent some changes: the portal was rebuilt and lined with shiny, strict squares of black and white marble, laid out in a clear, almost mathematical order, heraldic images of the Rucellai family of aristocrats, who owned the church, were prominently drawn in relief. at that time, and the naves were divided among themselves by rows of columns and high arches.<\/p>\n

Timed entrance ticket for Michelangelo's David – \u20ac16<\/a>
\nUffizi Gallery entrance ticket – \u20ac20<\/a>
\nUffizi Gallery: Priority entrance – \u20ac40<\/a>
\nFlorence Cathedral: Dome entrance ticket – \u20ac29<\/a>
\nPalazzo Vecchio entrance ticket and audio guide – \u20ac19<\/a>
\nTour Hop- on Hop-off. Ticket for 24, 48 or 72 hours – from 23 \u20ac<\/a>
\nLeonardo da Vinci Museum: entrance ticket – 7 \u20ac<\/a>
\nTour to the Duomo with a guide and climb to the top of the dome – 40 \u20ac<\/a>
\nEntrance ticket to the Basilica of San Lorenzo – 8.50 \u20ac<\/a>
\nAir flight balloon over Tuscany: Florence \u2013 250 \u20ac<\/a><\/p>\n

Interior<\/h2>\n

\"Basilica<\/a><\/p>\n

The temple is divided into three naves of equal size, between which huge columns rise in rows. Each nave is supported by a high ogival 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 dimension.<\/p>\n

At the same time, experienced travel<\/a>ers note that although the basilica is huge and beautiful, it is still quite modest: there are no elaborate gilded patterns, colorful paintings, or rich mosaics. The main hall is large, spacious, bright, filled with air. The ceilings are painted white and decorated with green marble, which beautifully reflects the sun's rays. All decorations are noble and unobtrusive, and the monastery courtyard see<\/a>ms quite small, cozy and almost homely.<\/p>\n

The basilica is famous for<\/a> the fact that there are many works of art of the 14th-16th centuries: works by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giorgio Vasari, Rossellino and other famous painters and sculptors. There are also several tombs with the bishops and monks who rest<\/a>ed in them, and a majestic altar with a bronze “Crucifixion” by the Florentine master Giovanni da Bologna.<\/p>\n

Chapels and frescoes<\/h2>\n

\"Basilica<\/a><\/p>\n

There are five chapels in the basilica. They are located<\/a> 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 special mention.<\/p>\n

The Gondi Chapel can be safely called the first – it was from it that the construction of the basilica began, all other chapels, chapels and buildings grew up around it. The oldest Byzantine frescoes in Florence are preserved here, and Brunelleschi's “Crucifixion” is also located here. The surname 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.<\/p>\n

The next chapel is also personal, named after the family of Florentine artists Gaddi, it is known for its luxurious painted ceiling by Alessandro Allori. In the Strozzi di Mantova chapel are the legendary frescoes “Paradise”, “Last Judgment” and “Paradise”, as if referring to the “Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri, also a native of Florence.<\/p>\n

Boccaccio refers to the Decameron by another chapel – Strozzi. It is here that seven girls and three boys meet at the beginning of the story to hide from the plague that is approaching Florence.<\/p>\n

The fifth chapel is Pura, which means “pure” in translation. This chapel has its own, special legend: they say that one day the Madonna herself appeared here before her death to take away two dirty children<\/a> to wash, hence the name appeared.<\/p>\n

As for the frescoes, there are really a lot of them in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Those that have a special artistic and historical value are now fenced off, and explanatory signs hang nearby. These include the following frescoes:<\/p>\n

In addition to the frescoes, I would like to note the wonderful stained-glass windows that adorn the basilica. The stained-glass window “The Coronation of the Mother of God” is especially beautiful: in clear weather<\/a>, when the sun's rays penetrate through the glass and reflect the pattern on the walls and floor, it seems that the picture comes to life before our eyes.<\/p>\n

Opening hours<\/a> and ticket prices<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Basilica<\/a><\/p>\n

The temple is open as follows:<\/p>\n

The price for visit<\/a>ing the basilica without a tour and a guide is 3.5 euros. Toddlers under five years old can go for free, and students and pensioners 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 is unlikely to be given to you – you will have to pay the full cost of the ticket.<\/p>\n

But as part<\/a> of an excursion group, although you will have to lay out more coins, you will be able to list<\/a>en to a detailed story telling about the history<\/a>, architecture, art and religious relics located in the basilica, and go inside without a queue. And the queues here at any time of the year and on any day of the week are simply huge!<\/p>\n

Where is it located and how to<\/a> get there<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"Basilica<\/a><\/p>\n

Funny pun, but the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is located in Piazza Santa Maria Novella near Santa Maria Novella train<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Here is the historical and cultural center<\/a> of the city<\/a>, its most famous and beautiful places<\/a>, and the basilica stands in the middle of this ancient luxury. You can get here both by public transport<\/a> and by taxi<\/a>. The entrance to the basilica is located from the front side, from the facade, which 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.<\/p>\n

If you want to walk around the entire basilica and take a good look at all its sights<\/a>, expect to spend at least 2-3 hours.<\/p>\n

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella on the map<\/a><\/h2>\n