Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Renaissance. Spot portraits of Ghirlandaio's contemporaries and members of the Tor-
nabuoni family (who commissioned the frescoes).
Cappella Strozzi di Mantova
To the far left of the altar, up a short flight of stairs, is this wonderful chapel covered in
soul-stirring 14th-century frescoes by Niccolò di Tommaso and Nardo di Cione. The fine
altarpiece (1354-57) here was painted by the latter's brother Andrea, better known as
Andrea Orcagna.
Chiostro Verde
From the church, walk through a side door into the serenely beautiful Green Cloister
(1332-62), part of the vast monastery occupied by Dominican friars who arrived in
Florence in 1219 and settled in Santa Maria Novella two years later. The cloister is
named after the green earth base used for the frescoes on three of its four walls.
Cappellone degli Spagnoli
A door off the cloister's northern side leads into this chapel, named in 1566 when it was
given to the Spanish colony in Florence (
Spagnoli
means Spanish). Its extraordinary fres-
coes (c 1365-67) by Andrea di Bonaiuto depict the Resurrection, Ascension and Pente-
cost (vault); on the altar wall are scenes of the Via Dolorosa, Crucifixion and Descent in-
to Limbo.
Top Tips
›
Allow at least two hours to take it all in.
›
Enter via the basilica on Piazza di Santa Maria Novella or through the tourist office opposite the train station
on Via de' Partzani.
›
Amuse yourself in the Spanish Chapel with a game of 'Spot the Celebrity ' - find portraits of Cimabue, Gi-
otto, Boccaccio, Petrarch and Dante in
The Militant and Triumphant Church
fresco.
›
Watch for the re-opening (post renovation) of Cappella degli Ubriachi and the refectory with its 1583
Last
Supper
by Alessandro Allori.
