subject: Santa Croce - Florence [print this page] Santa Croce - Florence Santa Croce - Florence
When You book a guided tour in Florence, with us You'll realize how beautiful and magic this town is.
The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence in the square with the same name, is one of the largest churches officiated by the Franciscans and one of thehighest achievements of Gothic in Italy. Temple is known as Italy's glories for its many tombs of great artists, writers and scientists within. Santa Croce is a prestigious symbol of Florence, the meeting place of the greatest artists, theologians, religious scholars, humanists and politicians, which led, in good times and bad times, the identity of late medieval and Renaissance city. Inside it they found accommodations famous historical figures of the Church like St. Bonaventure, Peter John Olivi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Bernardino of Siena, Saint Louis of Anjou. It was also the venue for the reception ofpopes Sixtus IV, Eugenius IV, Leo X, Clement XIV.
The magnificent church is probably the work of Arnolfo di Cambio, who would work from 1294-1295, even though we do not have written documents that reinforce it. The criticism, however, has now confirmed the traditional attribution due to both the high quality of the complex and the similarities with other works by the great architect. It was built at the expense of the population of the Florentine Republic and built on a former small church that the Franciscans hadbuilt following their arrival in the city in 1252, still in a place outside the walls, a few years after the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The remains of the building were located in 1966, following the collapse of the floor of the basilica after the flood. On the death of Arnolfo in 1302 was to be completed part of the choir and transept, with the chapels. The church was finished about 90 years later, around 1385, but was only consecrated in 1443 at the presence in the city of Pope Eugenius IV. The church continued to be expanded and changed in seven centuries after its foundation, gaining new symbolic connotations: from the Franciscan church at "town hall" for large religious families and corporations, laboratory and studio art and theological
center. In 1966 the Florence flood inflicted serious damage to the whole church and monastery, located in the lower part of Florence, becoming infamous as a symbol of artistic losses suffered by the city (especially the destruction of the Crucifix by Cimabue) but also its rebirth from the mud, through the extensive process of restoration and conservation.
Book one of our guided Tour inFlorence, and You'll enjoy the unique atmosphere of this beautiful town
