San Marco, Florence

The Church of San Marco and the eponymous monastery in Florence are located on the Piazza San Marco in the north of the old town.

The church belongs to the Benedictine monastery founded in 1299 and was completed around the year 1310. In 1436 the church and monastery of the Dominicans of San Domenico ( Fiesole) were handed over by Pope Eugene IV. In the years 1437 to 1452 large parts of the walls crumbled under the supervision of the architect Michelozzo di Bartolommeo were newly built. The money for this work was Cosimo de ' Medici. In return he received from the Pope a discharge certificate, the first line he made Attach the entrance to the sacristy. " Cum hoc templum Marco Evangeliste dicatum magnificis sumptibus cl eat v. Cosmi de Medicis tandem absolutum " was in the years 1777-1780 the facade of the church according to designs by Gioacchino Pronti newly built.

In the sanctuary, the Alessandro Gherardini (1655-1726) is located in 1717 -created fresco Triumph of Mary. In addition to the choir there is a chapel, the Ludovico Cigoli (1559-1613) is attributed and was built around the year 1594. From him also date the frescoes in the chapel. Another chapel was dedicated to Saint Antonino ( Antonino Pierozzi ), who was for many years prior of the monastery, and is one of the most important works of Giovanni Bologna. It was built in the years 1578-1589.

Part of the monastery library, which was based on the designs of Michelozzo. It was built in 1441-1444 and is the oldest public library. The core of the book is the manuscript collection of the humanist Niccolo Niccoli.

The monastery buildings are now home to a museum with numerous pictures, among others, Fra Angelico and Domenico Ghirlandaio. The images Angelico incurred when he lived as a monk in the convent of San Marco. In the former apartment of the prior numerous objects and images will be exhibited which are reminiscent of Girolamo Savonarola, who was from 1485 prior of the monastery of San Marco.