Basilica di Santo Spirito

"Situated on the south side of the Arno River, the Basilica of Santo Spirito was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century and since its establishment has been governed by the Friars of the Order of Saint Augustine. To be quite honest, standing in the piazza looking up at its exterior, I found the church to be rather non-descript in its design and upon entering I was struck by how stark its interior was compared to the heavily decorated Italian Gothic churches I have been used to visiting. I would still recommend wandering around the basilica to appreciate the Renaissance architecture and artworks but tucked away and unbeknown to many, is a fascinating little cloister which ended up being one of my favourite dark locations during my time in Florence! Whilst the admission to the church is free, along the left-hand side you will see an entrance where for a modest admission fee you can gain access to the 17th century cloister. The cloister is named ‘Chiostro dei Morti’ translating to ‘Cloister of the Dead’ and is beautifully designed with arched columns, a serene garden and walls lined with a variety of fascinating tombstones! Upon closer inspection you will find many examples of memento mori including illustrations and carvings of skulls, winged hourglasses, skeletons and scythes, along with other depictions of iconic funerary art. These historic weather-worn designs are part of a patchwork mosaic of 100s of memorial stones which cover all four walls of the cloister. One of the most unique tombstones I found was that of ‘Marianna Cammilla’, which showcases the deceased on her death bed, with a flying skeleton holding a scythe looking down upon her. The carving is extremely emotive and is a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of one’s life. The ancient basin has miraculously remained intact for hundreds of years and is still used by monks as a space which connects the different areas of the church. As well as visiting to admire the artwork, it’s a wonderful location to sit and reflect in a tranquil and calming setting."

"The Church of Santo Spirito is one of the most important religious monuments in Florence. While Santa Maria Novella is the church of the Dominicans and Santa Croce that of the Franciscans, Santo Spirito has always been the point of reference for the Augustinians of Florence. Built on the remains of a previous church, it was begun in 1444 by Filippo Brunelleschi who also designed the dome while the bell tower is the work of Baccio d'Agnolo. After Brunelleschi's death in 1446, the construction site passed into the hands of three followers, Antonio Manetti, Giovanni da Gaiole and Salvi d'Andrea, who completed the work. The façade that can be admired today is the result of the modifications made in 1700. The façade that can be admired today is the result of the modifications made in 1700. Santo Spirito takes up the structure of another basilica created by Brunelleschi, that of San Lorenzo, but enlivens the architecture with longer side naves and above all with the dome in a central position. Above the altar there is a baroque canopy made by Giovanni Caccini in collaboration with Gherardo Silvani. Santo Spirito has 38 side altars in which some works of great importance are exhibited. In the transept altar there is one of the most important works of the basilica: the Madonna with Child and St. John the Baptist, St. Martin and St. Catherine the Martyr by Filippino Lippi."

"Basilica di Santo Spirito is unfortunately the most underwhelming of the big four churches. Santo Spirito is located on the south side of the Arno river right next to the popular Gustapizza. Admission into Santo Spirito is free."