Page 283 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

FL ORENCE  281

second floor is dedicated to
Greek vases, notably the famed
François Vase, found in an
Etruscan tomb near Chiusi.

5 Spedale degli
Innocenti
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata 12.
Map 2 E4. Tel 055 203 71.
Open Museum: 10am–7pm daily.
Closed 1 Jan, Easter, 25 Dec. &
Named after Herod’s biblical
The Birth of the Virgin (1514) by del Sarto in Santissima Annunziata Massacre of the Innocents, the
“Hospital” opened in 1444 as
3 Santissima Santissima Annunziata, one of Europe’s first orphanage. Part of
Annunziata the finest Renaissance squares the building is still used for this
in Florence. Designed by purpose. Brunelleschi’s arcaded
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. Brunelleschi, the delicate nine- loggia is decorated with glazed
Map 2 E4. Tel 055 239 80 34. Open bay arcade fronts the Spedale terracotta roundels, added by
7:30am–12:30pm, 4pm–6:30pm daily.
degli Innocenti to its right, Andrea della Robbia around
Founded by the Servite order in while at the centre of the square 1498, showing babies wrapped
1250, the church of the Holy stands a bronze equestrian in swaddling bands. At the left
Annunciation was later rebuilt statue of Duke Ferdinando I. end of the portico you can see
by Michelozzo between 1444 Started by Giambologna, it was the rota, a rotating stone
and 1481. Its atrium contains finished in 1608 by his assistant cylinder on which anonymous
frescoes by the Mannerist artists Pietro Tacca (who designed the mothers could place their
Rosso Fiorentino, Andrea del square’s bronze fountains). unwanted children and ring
Sarto and Jacopo Pontormo. the bell for them to be
Perhaps the finest of its panels 4 Museo admitted to the orphanage.
are The Journey of the Magi Within the building lie two
(1511) and The Birth of the Virgin Archeologico elegant cloisters: the Chiostro
(1514) by del Sarto. Via della Colonna 36. Map 2 E4. degli Uomini (Men’s Cloister),
The heavily decorated, dark Tel 055 235 75. Open 8:30am–7pm built between 1422 and 1445
interior has a frescoed ceiling Tue–Fri, 8:30am–2pm Sat–Mon. and decorated with sgraffito
completed by Pietro Giambelli Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec. 7 = roosters and cherubs, and the
in 1669. Here is one of the city’s smaller Women’s Cloister (1438).
most revered shrines, a painting The Archaeological Museum in The upstairs gallery contains a
of the Virgin Mary begun by a Florence is in a palazzo built by handful of fine works, including
monk in 1252 but miraculously Giulio Parigi for the Princess terracottas by della Robbia and
completed by an angel, Maria Maddalena de’ Medici pictures by Botticelli, Piero di
according to devout Florentines. in 1620. It now exhibits an Cosimo and Domenico
Newlywed couples traditionally outstanding collection of Ghirlandaio. There is a vast
visit the shrine (on the left Etruscan, Greek, Roman space for temporary exhibitions,
as you enter the church) and Egyptian artifacts. as well as a beautiful terrace,
to present a bouquet of The first floor contains complete with a cafeteria.
flowers to the Virgin a splendid series of
and to pray for a Etruscan bronzes as well
long, fruitful and as the famous Chimera
fecund marriage. (4th century BC),
A door from the a mythical
north transept leads to lion with a
the Chiostrino dei Morti goat’s head
(Cloister of the Dead), imposed on its body
so called because it was and a serpent for a tail.
originally used as a burial Equally impressive is the
ground. Today it is best 1st-century Arringatore
known for del Sarto’s bronze found near Lake
beautiful fresco The Trasimeno in Umbria.
Madonna del Sacco (1525). It is inscribed with
The church is situated on the name of Aulus
the northern flank of Etruscan warrior, Museo Metellus. A large Part of Brunelleschi’s arcaded loggia,
Piazza della Archeologico section on the Spedale degli Innocenti

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