Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Casa di Dante
4
Via Santa Margherita 1.
Map
4 D1 (6 E3)
.
Tel
055 21 94 16.
#
The Bargello
6
See pp68-9.
The peaceful Chiostro degli
Aranci (“cloister of the orange
trees”) is a little hard to find.
Look for a door to the right
of the altar. Sadly, the orange
trees that the monks used to
cultivate here are no
longer present. The two-tier
cloister, built by Rossellino
in 1435-40, has a well-
preserved fresco cycle
showing scenes from the
life of St Benedict. Dating
from the 15th century, it
was restored as
recently as 1973.
An early fresco
by Bronzino
(1503-72) can also
be seen in the
north walkway.
Excellent views
of the hexagonal
campanile, which gets
mentioned by Dante in the
Paradiso
section of
The
Divine Comedy
, can be
enjoyed from the cloister.
In the 14th century, a series
of readings and lectures
devoted to Dante's work were
given at the Badia by the poet
Boccaccio. In keeping with
the spirit of these meetings,
the abbey is today often
used for talks and concerts.
Palazzo
Nonfinito
7
Via del Proconsolo 12.
Map
2 D5
(6 E2).
Tel
055 239 64 49.
#
10am-5pm Tue-Sun.
¢
last Sun of the month.
&
It is uncertain whether the
poet Dante Alighieri
(1265-1321) was
actually born here, but
at least the house looks
the part. In 1911, the
remains of a 13th-
century tower
house were
restored to give
the building
its rambling
appearance.
Just a short
stroll north of
the house is the parish church
of Santa Margherita de'
Cerchi, built during the 11th
century. It is here that Dante
is said to have first caught sight
of Beatrice Portinari, whom
he idolized in his poetry. The
church, which is often used
for Baroque chamber music
and organ recitals, contains
a fine altarpiece by Neri di
Bicci (1418-91).
9am-1pm Thu-Tue (to 5pm Sat).
¢
1 Jan, 25 Apr, Easter Sun,
1 May, 24 Jun, 15 Aug, 8 Dec,
25-26 Dec, 31 Dec.
^
&
The Palazzo Nonfinito
(Unfinished Palace) was
begun by Buontalenti in 1593
and was still incomplete
when it became Italy's first
museum of anthropology and
ethnology in 1869. The most
striking architectural feature is
an imposing inner courtyard
usually attributed to Cigoli
(1559-1613).
The museum's opening
hours are severely restricted.
However, it's worth setting
aside some time to see the
collection of art from Italy's
former African colonies, and
material carried away by
Captain Cook, the 18th-
century British explorer, on
the last of his Pacific voyages.
Bust of Dante on the
façade of Casa di Dante
Badia
Fiorentina
5
Via del Proconsolo.
Map
4 D1
(6 E3).
Tel
055 234 45 45.
Church
#
8am-6pm Tue-Sat.
Cloister
#
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.
Filippino Lippi's
The Virgin
Appearing to St Bernard
(1485)
also enlivens an otherwise drab
and solemn interior. Its remark-
able detail, particularly in the
landscape, makes it one of
the most artistically significant
works of the 15th century.
The Virgin Appearing to St Bernard
(1485) by Filippino Lippi
