OLTRARNO, BRUNELLESCHI AND MICHELANGELO
One of the great architectural achievements of the Florentine Renaissance, deeply connected with the history of the Oltrarno and the life of the Augustinian community.
The Basilica of Santo Spirito, together with its Augustinian convent, is one of the treasures of the Oltrarno. The harmony of the space designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the chapels of Florentine families and the youthful wooden Crucifix by Michelangelo make the visit an extraordinary encounter with art, history and spirituality.
YOUR PRIVATE GUIDE IN FLORENCE
Visit Santo Spirito with Giulia Bacci
I am Giulia Bacci, a licensed tour guide and art historian in Florence. I can guide you through the basilica, Michelangelo’s Crucifix and the rooms of the Augustinian complex on a private visit tailored to your interests and available time.
FROM THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY TO THE NEW BASILICA
A history born in the heart of the Oltrarno
The history of the complex began in 1250, when the rector Aldobrandino purchased a plot of land in the area known as Cuculia, which was then sparsely inhabited. Through later acquisitions, the convent area overlooking the square gradually took shape.
The convent became an important spiritual and cultural centre and welcomed religious confraternities such as the Croce dei Bianchi and the Laudesi. Its relationship with the neighbourhood and Florentine families remained an essential part of its identity.
Construction of the new basilica began on 19 January 1444 according to the design of Filippo Brunelleschi. The resulting space became one of the clearest expressions of the new Renaissance architecture.
A SQUARE, A CHURCH, A NEIGHBOURHOOD
“On summer evenings, the façade looks at us with the stern familiarity of an old cupboard at home.”
Antonio Paolucci
The authentic character of the Oltrarno is reflected in the chapels, the family patronages and the marble memorials preserved in the cloisters.
BRUNELLESCHI’S ARCHITECTURE
Measure, light and harmony
A human-scaled space in which rhythm and proportion guide the eye.
The pietra serena, white plaster, large windows and regular sequence of bays create a luminous and musical space. Architecture is not merely a setting: it organises movement, connects the chapels and gives unity to a heritage formed over centuries.
The chapels display the patronage of prominent Florentine families and works by masters such as Filippino Lippi, Andrea Sansovino, Alessandro Allori and Bernardino Poccetti. The complex also bears the mark of several leading figures in Florentine architecture.
Brunelleschi
Giuliano da Sangallo
Baccio d’Agnolo
Il Cronaca
Ammannati
Caccini
Parigi
A CHRIST BORN IN THE SILENCE OF THE CONVENT
The wooden Crucifix by the young Michelangelo
After the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent, the young Michelangelo found shelter with the friars of Santo Spirito. Thanks to the prior Nicolò Bichiellini, he was able to study anatomy in the convent hospital, an experience that proved decisive for his training.
As a gesture of gratitude, around 1492–1493 he created the delicate wooden Crucifix. His knowledge of the human body is not displayed as technical virtuosity, but expressed through a fragile, composed and profoundly human figure.
For centuries, the work disappeared from view. In 1962, the scholar Margrit Lisner recognised it during a survey of Tuscan wooden crucifixes. Thanks also to the efforts of the Augustinian friar Father Guido Balestri, the Crucifix was restored, studied and returned to public attention.
After a long period at Casa Buonarroti, the work returned permanently to Santo Spirito in 2000. Today it is displayed in the Sacristy designed by Giuliano da Sangallo, the spiritual and symbolic heart of the visitor route.
THE AUGUSTINIAN COMPLEX
The visit continues beyond the basilica
The route reveals Santo Spirito as a unified complex, where Brunelleschi’s grand architecture leads into more intimate spaces connected with convent life and Augustinian memory.
THE BASILICA
Naves, chapels and high altar
Brunelleschi’s interior, the chapels of Florentine families, Andrea Sansovino’s Corbinelli Chapel and the great high altar designed by Giovan Battista Caccini.
THE SACRISTY
Giuliano da Sangallo and Michelangelo
The vestibule with a ceiling by Andrea Sansovino leads into the octagonal Sacristy, where Michelangelo’s Crucifix enters into dialogue with pietra serena, light and silence.
THE CONVENT
Cloister, Chapter House and Refectory
The route includes the Cloister of the Dead, the Chapter House and the Refectory with Bernardino Poccetti’s Three Suppers, a testimony to the life and memory of the community.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Access to the basilica and the Augustinian Museum Route
Basilica
Entry to the church is free of charge when no liturgical celebrations are taking place, as these always take priority.
Museum route
The individual contribution is €2 and supports the protection, enhancement and public opening of the basilica and convent.
Bookings
Online booking is recommended. Advance booking is required for agencies, organised groups, schools and group visits.
Opening hours, conditions and accessibility may vary according to celebrations and community life. Always check the official information before your visit.
IN THE HEART OF THE OLTRARNO
Where Santo Spirito is located
The basilica stands in Piazza Santo Spirito, in the heart of Florence’s Oltrarno, a short walk from Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the neighbourhood’s artisan streets.
The visit can be included in a broader Oltrarno itinerary connecting architecture, city life, artisan workshops and the great Medici collections.
BEFORE YOUR VISIT
Frequently asked questions about Santo Spirito
How long does a guided tour take?
The duration depends on the agreed route. The basilica and Augustinian complex can form a complete visit or be included in a broader itinerary through the Oltrarno.
Is Michelangelo’s Crucifix included in the route?
Yes. The Crucifix is displayed in Giuliano da Sangallo’s Sacristy and is one of the highlights of the Augustinian Museum Route.
Is booking required?
Online booking is recommended for individual visitors. Organised groups, agencies, schools and group visits must book in advance.
Is photography allowed?
The official rules of the complex do not allow photography. Visitors are also asked to remain quiet, dress appropriately and respect liturgical celebrations.
PERSONALISED GUIDED TOUR
Discover Santo Spirito with Giulia
Tell me your preferred date, number of participants and time available. We will create a visit devoted to the basilica, Michelangelo and the history of the Oltrarno.
You can also use the form, indicating the date, number of participants, preferred language and main interests.
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