The Basilica of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito, or Saint Mary of Holy spirit, is one the main churches in Florence, and the last church designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The church is referred to as Santo Spirito and is located in the Oltrarno quarter, across the Arno river from the city center. The church is one of the preeminent examples of Renaissance architecture, and was constructed over the preexisting ruins of an Augustinian convent from the 13th century, which was destroyed by a fire. Brunelleschi began designs for the new building as early as 1428, but, after his death in 1446, the works were carried on by his followers Antonio Manetti, Giovanni da Gaiole, and Salvi d’Andrea. Salvi d’Andrea was also responsible for the construction of the cupola.
The facade that Brunelleschi had planned was never installed and the exterior walls were left blank. Today, the church’s most notable feature is the simple façade, now an emblem for the Oltrarno district. In 1489, Simone del Pollaiolo and Giuliano da Sangallo designed an octagonal sacristy, known as Il Cronaca, built to the left of the building.
The church has thirty-eight side chapels, which contain considerable amount ofs artwork. Considered the most noteworthy by many, the Bini-Capponi Chapel houses the St. Monica Establishing the Rule of the Augustinian Nuns by Francesco Botticini. In the chapels of the transept are frescoes by Filippino Lippi and a choir from which Frescobaldi Marquisses could participate in the rites without being seen by the crowd.
When Michelangelo Buonarroti was seventeen years old, he conducted anatomical studies on the corpses coming from the convent’s hospital. In exchange, he sculpted a wooden crucifix which was placed over the high altar. Today, the crucifix is in the octagonal sacristy, accessible from the interior of the church. The convent had two cloisters, called Chiostro dei Morti and Choistro Grande (‘Cloister of the Dead’ and ‘Grand Cloister’). The first takes its name from the great number of tombstones decorating its walls, and was built around 1600. The latter was constructed in 1564-1569 by Bartolomeo Ammannati in a classicist style.
Santo Spirito is located directly in front of Piazza Santo Spirito. The square was created in the 13th century for the main purpose of serving the crowds who attended the prayers of the Augustinians. The square has a statue of Cosimo Ridolfi, founder of the L'Georgofili Academy, and a fountain dating back to 1812. The square is home to a flea market on the second Sunday of every month and a small daily market, with vendors selling fruit, vegetables, clothes, and flowers. The square also has many restaurants and cafes, and the stairs of the church of Santo Spirito are home to many eclectic Florentines at night. This square showcases the authenticity of the Oltrarno district.
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