On the way we go past the Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano, located on Piazza Antinori.
The original church dedicated to the Archangel Michael dates from the 11th century but was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century by the Teatini order who then dedicated the church to St Michael and later on to their founder, once he was canonized, St Gaetano.
Statues of St Andrew Avellino (left) and St Gaetano Thiene (right)
Cherubs sit beside the badge of the Medici.
Hope and Poverty sit above the main door way and on either side of the coat of arms of the Teatini
New stairs were added in 1710.
The interior really needs to be seen to be appreciated - it is quite beautiful with its black stone walls lined with statues of the Apostles and Evangelists. We sat here for a while, listening to choir practice and just admiring its splendour. We're both really happy to have visited.
A short walk from here and it's time to cross the Arno at the Ponte all Carraia
in the distance is the Ponte Santa Trinita and beyond that, the Ponte Vecchio.
The church we came to visit is S. Frediano in Cestello which looks like this from the other side of the river
up close it isn't that photogenic - so take your photos from the other side of the river. It was open so we did get to look inside.
The church was designed by Silviani and Cerutti and built in the 17th Century replacing the Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angel. The cupola and campanile were added in 1689 and are by Antonio Ferri.
Dome frescoes (Glory of the Magdalena and Virtue) are by Antonio Domenico Gabbiani (1718).
Like many churches, there's some scaffolding inside for restoration works.
From this side of the river you can get a better look at the Pescaia di Santa Rosa - the pescaia is formed from the remnants of demolished mills.
A view of the Ponte alla Carraia
This is the Chiesa di Santo Salvatore a Ognissanti - we will try to visit it tomorrow.
Our next stop is the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine - which doesn't have a very picturesque facade but truly makes up for that inside.
The Corsini Chapel - built in 1675 and dedicated to St Andrew Corsini. The fresco on the dome was done by Luca Giordano in 1682
A view across to the Brancacci Chapel - to see this chapel up close is by ticketed entry. They have limits on the number that can visit at any one time and the time spent. More of it a little later.
Dome over the main altar shows considerable wear to the fresco.
View to the rear of the church
Just a little of the tromp-l'oeil fresco on the ceiling of the main aisle of the church. It as done by Domenico Stagi.
View from the rear to the Altar.
Just two photos of the frescoes of the Brancacci Chapel. The frescoes are by Masaccaio and Masolino with some additional work by Lippi.
It visit the Chapel you exit the church and enter via the adjoining building and pass through the convent
Very peaceful but don't linger as this sign warns
sign: Danger branches might fall down. Do not linger under the trees
In one of the rooms off this area you'll find a fresco of the Last Supper (Cenacola) by Alessandro Allori (1582), unfortunately like many things it too was damaged by the 1966 flood.
a surviving fresco in the convent
Our next stop was the Chiesa di Santa Spirito
but as was the case 2 years ago, it was closed.
It was probably a good time to head back and have lunch
These are the statues that sit on each side of the Ponte Santa Trinita
more views of the Arno looking towards Ponte alla Carraia (left) and Ponte Vecchio (right)
Another view of the Ponte alla Carraia
Another Ponte Vecchio shot
and one more for luck.
We find two more statues as we reach the other side of the bridge
Just a little way from the bridge and in the middle of Piazza Santa Trinita you can find the Colonna della Giustizia (Column of Justice). The column was put here in 1565 to mark Cosimo I's victory over the French and Florentine republican rebels.
The decorations are up looks like Christmas is coming.
For lunch we ate at Terra Terra.
Bruschetta for Paalo
Crostini Misti for me
insalata mista
Paalo's main: Gnocchetti sardi with Salsicce sauce - Sardinian Gnocchi with Sausage Sauce
My main: Pane Frattau - typical Sardinian dish consisting of layers of Pane Carasau (wafer thin crisp bread from Sardinia), rich tomato based sauce and topped with a poached egg - very simple but delish!
Pane Carasau is also known as carta da musica
For dolce:
Paalo had the Zuppa Fiorentina - which reminded me somewhat of Zuppa Inglese
Liqueur soaked slices of sponge with crema pasticcera.
And I had the plate of mixed Sardinian sweets - flavoured meringues and torrone.
After lunch we visited the English cemetery in Piazzale Donatello
We had passed by here on the way to our picnic but it was shut but we had decided to revisit especially since reading about it. The cemetery dates from 1827 when the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church purchased land from the then Grand Duke of Tuscany to create an ecumenical cemetery - non-catholics and non-jews up until that time could only be buried in Livorno.
Unfortunately the cemetary was closed in 1877 when Florence was made the capital of Italy and the old Napoleonic code forbid burials within city limits. It then started its long march into decline. It was reopened in 1996 and allows burials of ashes or small caskets of bones.
If you want to know more about this cemetery and all the hard work that is being done to help preserve and restore this place than I really do recommend you visit this site to learn more.
This is one of the figures that really doesn't need any words of explanation - the absolute grief is there and palpable
From the tomb of Arnold Savage Landor
In Tender
Memory of
Walter Eldredge Alexander
Son of Walter S. and
Constance Eldredge Alexander
Died April 25 1874
Aged 7 years
The final resting place of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
For more photos of the English Cemetery visit the Flickr Set: English Cemetery
Amazing pics man!!! Would give my left hand to go visit Florence after having a look at these pics.
ReplyDeleteThanks Abhihav, I hope you get to visit Florence with your hand intact!
ReplyDelete