BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLA IN FLORENCE
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is one of the city’s most important churches. Leon Battista Alberti’s façade introduces a journey through works by Giotto, Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Ghirlandaio and Filippino Lippi.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and the Dominican convent overlook the square of the same name, a few minutes from the railway station. The complex preserves some of the essential masterpieces of Florentine art and includes the church, chapels, museum and cloisters.
YOUR GUIDE IN FLORENCE
Visit Santa Maria Novella with Giulia Bacci
I am Giulia Bacci, a licensed tour guide and art historian in Florence. I can accompany you through the basilica, its chapels and the convent spaces on a private tour tailored to your interests and the time available.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE DOMINICANS IN FLORENCE
From Santa Maria tra le Vigne to the new basilica
The Dominicans arrived in Florence in 1219. In 1221 they were given the church of Santa Maria tra le Vigne, located outside the city walls built between 1172 and 1175. The new church would be called Santa Maria Novella, meaning “new”.
Construction of the basilica began in 1242. The complex grew together with the order, becoming a spiritual, cultural and intellectual landmark for Florence.
Dominican preaching used the vernacular, the language spoken by the people, to bring the faithful closer to spirituality and counter the spread of heresy. One of the best-known preachers was Peter of Verona.
A SQUARE FOR PREACHING
In 1287 work began to open up the large square. The mendicant orders needed spaces capable of accommodating large crowds during sermons.
Over time, the square also became a place for markets, celebrations and public spectacles, closely connected with the civic life of Florence.
THE SQUARE OF GAMES AND CEREMONIES
The Palio dei Cocchi
Cosimo I de’ Medici established the Palio dei Cocchi in the square. Four chariots, inspired by ancient Roman vehicles and representing the districts of San Giovanni, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella and Santo Spirito, completed three circuits of the square.
In 1570, the two monumental marble obelisks were erected under the supervision of Bartolomeo Ammannati. The Medici watched the event from a canopy set up on the steps of the Hospital of San Paolo.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SQUARE
From the Hospital of San Paolo to twentieth-century art
The Hospital of San Paolo, founded in the thirteenth century and enlarged in the fifteenth, has a loggia attributed to Michelozzo, inspired by Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti. The glazed terracottas are by Andrea della Robbia.
After serving several different purposes, the building is now home to the Museo Novecento. The square also preserves significant modern architecture, including Tito Chini’s stained-glass windows at Hotel Roma and the work of Edoardo Detti and Carlo Scarpa at Hotel Minerva.
A SQUARE THAT TELLS THE STORY OF FLORENCE
Preaching, games, hospitality, civic memory and contemporary art: Piazza Santa Maria Novella preserves traces of different periods and functions, united by the presence of the basilica.
GEOMETRY, MARBLE AND PROPORTION
Leon Battista Alberti’s façade
The façade combines medieval elements with a Renaissance intervention, transforming the existing structure into an ensemble of extraordinary harmony.
The medieval section
The lower section, faced with Florence’s traditional white and green marble, was completed by the middle of the fourteenth century. The burial arches and portals belong to the Gothic phase of the building.
Alberti’s design
Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai commissioned Leon Battista Alberti to complete the façade. Celebrated by the inscription dated 1470, Alberti’s intervention harmonised the upper section with the medieval one through proportion, volutes and geometric motifs.
MASTERPIECES OF THE BASILICA
What to see inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Highlights include Giotto’s Crucifix, Masaccio’s Trinity, Brunelleschi’s wooden Crucifix, the Tornabuoni Chapel, the Filippo Strozzi Chapel and the spaces of the Dominican convent.
GIOTTO
The Crucifix
The large Crucifix marks a decisive turning point in Western painting: Christ’s body acquires weight, volume and humanity, leaving behind the rigid abstraction of Byzantine art.
MASACCIO
The Trinity
The celebrated Trinity is one of the manifestos of the early Renaissance. Its perspective construction opens an extraordinarily coherent painted architecture within the real space of the church.
BRUNELLESCHI
The wooden Crucifix
Brunelleschi’s Crucifix reflects the search for measure, proportion and naturalism that characterises the new Florentine humanist culture.
The Tornabuoni Chapel
Domenico Ghirlandaio, commissioned by Giovanni Tornabuoni, frescoed the Stories of the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist, transforming fifteenth-century Florence into the setting for sacred history.
The Filippo Strozzi Chapel
Filippino Lippi painted the Stories of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Philip in a restless language rich in antiquarian invention and expressive tension.
The Strozzi di Mantova Chapel
Nardo di Cione frescoed the Last Judgement, Hell, Purgatory and Paradise; his brother Andrea, known asOrcagna, painted the polyptych with Christ the Redeemer and saints.
Art and science
The meridian line on the floor, the armillary sphere and the instruments on the façade also recall the scientific dimension of the complex, a place devoted to observation, calculation and the study of the sky.
THE DOMINICAN CONVENT
The Green Cloister, Spanish Chapel and Great Cloister
The visit continues through the convent spaces, where painting, architecture and religious life intertwine.
The Green Cloister
It takes its name from the frescoes painted by Paolo Uccello using a palette dominated by green earth. From here, visitors enter the other spaces of the convent route.
The Spanish Chapel
The former Chapter House preserves the great fresco cycle by Andrea di Bonaiuto, dedicated to the mission of the Dominican Order and the defence of the truth of the Church.
The Great Cloister
It is the largest cloister in Florence. The cycle devoted to the lives of Saint Dominic and Christ was painted by artists of the second half of the sixteenth century, including Bernardino Poccetti and Santi di Tito.
Upstairs were the Papal Apartments, of which the Chapel of the Popes survives, decorated by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio and Pontormo.
A PARALLEL STORY
The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
A glazed door in the convent offers a glimpse of the first room opened to the public in 1612 by theOfficina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe.
The present entrance is at 16 Via della Scala. The rooms, once part of the convent, preserve frescoes and memories connected with the production of remedies, essences and perfumes. The visit can also recall Catherine de’ Medici and the tradition of Acqua della Regina.
DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO VISITS
The Officina has a separate entrance and management from the monumental complex of the basilica. It is therefore a distinct stop, although deeply connected with the history of the convent.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Opening hours, tickets and visitor route
The ticket gives access to the basilica, museum and cloisters as a single route. Opening hours, prices, concessions and admission procedures may change, so always check the official information before visiting.
One combined route
The ticket allows visitors to explore the monumental complex of the basilica, museum and cloisters while preserving its unified historical and artistic interpretation.
Last admission
Last admission to the complex is one hour before closing. Tourist access may be limited or suspended during liturgical days and services.
A respectful visit
Santa Maria Novella is a consecrated basilica. Visitors are asked to respect services, remain quiet and wear suitable clothing.
IN THE CENTRE, NEAR THE STATION
Where Santa Maria Novella is located
The basilica and convent are in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, a few minutes’ walk from the railway station and easily reached from the Duomo, Via de’ Tornabuoni and the historic centre.
The visit can be included in an itinerary devoted to Dominican Florence, Renaissance architecture or the masterpieces of Giotto and Masaccio. To compare it with other places of worship, see the page dedicated to churches and basilicas in Florence.
BEFORE YOUR VISIT
Frequently asked questions about the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Is Santa Maria Novella a basilica or a railway station?
The name refers both to the Dominican basilica and to the nearby railway station. The monumental complex is in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, a few minutes’ walk from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station.
What should you see inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella?
The essential works and spaces are Giotto’s Crucifix, Masaccio’s Trinity, Brunelleschi’s wooden Crucifix, the Tornabuoni Chapel, the Filippo Strozzi Chapel, the Green Cloister and the Spanish Chapel.
How long does a guided tour take?
The duration depends on the agreed itinerary. The basilica, masterpieces and convent can form a complete independent visit or be included in a broader tour of the historic centre.
Does the ticket include the cloisters?
The official route is combined and includes the basilica, museum and cloisters. Some spaces may nevertheless have special access arrangements or opening times.
Is the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica included in the same route?
No. The Officina is historically connected with the convent, but today has a separate entrance and management at Via della Scala.
Can the basilica be visited during religious services?
Tourist visits may be suspended during religious services. It is therefore advisable to check the official opening hours before organising your visit.
PRIVATE PERSONALISED GUIDED TOUR
Discover Santa Maria Novella with Giulia
Tell me the date, number of participants and time available. Together we will create a visit devoted to the basilica, its masterpieces and the history of the Dominicans in Florence.
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