Santi Apostoli, Florence

Santi Apostoli is a Romanesque church in Florence - one of the few whose early medieval figure could be obtained thanks to careful restoration work.

Construction of the first church mentioned in 1075 can only be inferred from its architectural features. This place, due to its stylistic relationship to the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the church of San Miniato al Monte, a development close to 1060. Like these other two examples of the Proto-Renaissance in Florence, it has a number of components, the classical models pick up on.

The façade is in Romanesque style with simple Lombard decorative forms, but the portal dates from the 15th century

Inside corresponds to the construction of three naves, cross houseless basilica with a semicircular apse the basic type of early Christian churches. The ships are by columns of green marble ( from the nearby Prato) separated from each other, the shanks have Entasis ( swelling) of ancient temples.

The four -tiered arches of the arcades clearly refer to the ancient models. The geomorphology of the pre-Christian architecture also come from the Corinthian capitals, their immediate role models are in the church itself: The two western pillars actually own ancient capitals ( 1st century BC), which were probably taken as spoils the nearby Roman bath complexes.

The Romanesque simplicity is particularly evident in the apse, in the coarse, square masonry is visible.

The aforementioned antiquated form of the church are already taking important elements of Renaissance architecture, Filippo Brunelleschi anticipated. He should, inter alia, have been inspired by this church, new pick up the old forms in architecture. As a link between the ancient world and its "rebirth" in the 15th century Santi Apostoli is thus an important representative of the Florentine architecture of the Middle Ages dar.

A few elements in the church are more recent: the open, wood and richly decorated roof dates from the year 1333, the aisles of the 16th century The floor consists of simple mosaics and numerous grave plates of famous Florentine families. At the end of the left aisle there is a majolica tabernacle by Giovanni della Robbia.

The little square " Piazza del Limbo " was in former times a cemetery for deceased unbaptized children.

More images

Tabernacle by Giovanni della Robbia and grave of Oddo Altoviti

View of the Campanile from the other bank of the Arno from

43.76931211.252339Koordinaten: 43 ° 46 '10 " N, 11 ° 15' 8" O

• Church building in Florence
• Church of the Apostles
• Romanesque church
• Romanesque structure in Tuscany
• Church building of the Archdiocese of Florence