| The church, just steps from
the apartments, is considered to be one of the masterpieces
of the Italian Renaissance. During the 13th century, many
religious orders began to situate themselves within Florentine
city walls. The Chiesa di Santo Spirito was the first location
of the Agostinian monks, who, in 1250, founded a new church
dedicated to Santa Maria and Santo Spirito on the site of
a preexisting oratory. The Agostinians were a religious
order founded by Agostino d’Ippona, a monk from Tunisia.
Many Florentine families began to populate
the quarter and construct their homes in this zone, termed
“di là d’Arano” or “Oltrarno”
– “on the other side of the Arno” –
referring to its position in relationship to the Duomo.
The responsibility of creating the new project of Santo
Spirito was entrusted to Filippo Brunelleschi.
Work began in 1444, funded by the church
and by the wealthy Florentine families who, in exchange,
earned the right to have their tombs inside the chapels
of the church.
Brunelleschi was inspired by the ancient
Romanic basilicas and also by the old Florentine church
of Santissimi Apostoli, proposing a grand hall shaped like
a Latin cross with three naves divided by stone columns
and arches.
Inside, you can find works by Filippino
Lippi, Maso di Banco, Alessandro Allori and many other important
artists from the Florentine school. The elegant and sober
façade was initially decorated with pillars and painted
frames. Today, after a long restoration, it has been returned
to its original state, thus showing all of its elegance
and linearity.
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