BASILICA SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

Florence's first basilica, begun in 1246, completed in 1360 and consecrated the following century in 1420, this Dominican church has a distinctive architectural style. It successfully blends Florentine Gothic and Cistercian styles. The perfect facade, designed by Leon Battista Alberti (1456), can easily fool visitors into thinking it's a Renaissance church. It alternates green and white marble, typical of Florentine church decoration. The six arched niches on the lower part of the façade are decorated with the coats of arms of the families buried here. Santa Maria Novella's bell tower, built in 1330, is almost 69 m high.

Inside, with its Latin cross floor plan divided into three naves, and in the various chapels, the frescoes and paintings offer an exciting journey through Florentine painting, from Cimabue to ^16th-century Mannerism, including artists such as Andrea Orcagna, Masaccio, Giotto, Botticelli, Filippo Brunelleschi, Domenico Ghirlandaio... Masaccio's Trinity fresco (1425) is probably the first major work to apply the principles of linear perspective, creating a striking effect of depth. Visitors' attention is also drawn to a large crucifix hanging from the ceiling, attributed to Giotto.

Not to be missed: on the left side of the transept, overlooking the church floor, is the Strozzi di Mantova chapel, built between 1340 and 1350 in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas, and adorned with paintings by Nardo di Cione and his brother, Andrea di Cione, known as l'Orcagna. The chapel was built for the Strozzi family; its name refers to the city of Mantua, where members of this family lived after being expelled from Florence.

Within the Santa Maria Novella complex, the museum includes the cloisters of the former convent, as well as the Spanish chapel(cappellone degli Spagnoli). Visitors can also admire the Cloister of the Dead, with its French plaques, and the magnificent Green Cloister(chiostro Verde). Built in the ^14th century, thanks to the generosity of noble Florentine families, this cloister is decorated with frescoes by Paolo Uccello, depicting episodes from the life of St. Dominic and scenes from the Old Testament. The cloister's name refers to the green hue of the frescoes, which were unfortunately damaged when the Arno River flooded in 1966.

Visitor information: admission to the basilica includes a visit to the museum and cloisters.