Page 310 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

308  CENTR AL IT AL Y

1860s by Giuseppe Poggi,
and dotted with copies of
Michelangelo’s statues, its
balconies attract many visitors
and the inevitable massed ranks
of souvenir sellers. However, this
square remains an evocative
spot, especially when the sun
sets over the Arno and distant
Tuscan hills.

x San Miniato
al Monte
The façade of the church of San Miniato
Via del Monte alle Croci. Map 4 E3.
Tel 055 234 27 31. @ 12, 13. al Monte
Open 8am–1pm, 3:30–7pm daily.
Closed public hols. 7 protagonists appear in the
apse mosaic inside the church,
San Miniato is one of the most which sits above a crypt
beautiful Romanesque churches supported by columns
in Italy. Begun in 1018, it was salvaged from ancient Roman
built over the shrine of San buildings. The floor of the nave
Miniato (St Minias), a rich is covered with seven mosaic
The Virgin from The Annunciation Armenian merchant beheaded panels of animals and signs of
(1525–8) by Pontormo for his beliefs in the 3rd century. the zodiac. These mosaics date
The façade, begun around back to 1207.
l Santa Felìcita 1090, has the geometric Other highlights include
marble patterning typical of Michelozzo’s free-standing
Piazza di Santa Felìcita. Map 3 C2
(5 C5). @ D. Tel 055 21 30 18. Pisan-Romanesque architecture. Cappella del Crocifisso (1448)
Open 9:30am–noon, 3:30–6:30pm The statue on the gable shows and the Renaissance Cappella
daily (only am Sun). 7 an eagle carrying a bale of del Cardinale del Portogallo
cloth, the symbol of the (1480) with terracotta roundels
There has been a church on this powerful Arte di Calimala (1461) on the ceiling by Luca
site since the 4th century. The (guild of wool importers), who della Robbia. There is a fresco
present structure, begun in the financed the church in the cycle of Scenes from the Life of
11th century, was remodelled in Middle Ages. The 13th-century St Benedict by Spinello Aretino
1736–9 by Ferdinando Ruggieri, mosaic shows Christ, the Virgin in the sacristy, which was
who retained Vasari’s earlier and St Minias. The same completed in 1387.
porch (added in 1564) as well
as many of the church’s original
Gothic features.
The Capponi family chapel
to the right of the entrance
contains two works by Jacopo
da Pontormo: The Deposition
and The Annunciation (1525–8).
Their strange composition and
remarkable colouring make
them two of Mannerism’s
greatest masterpieces.
z Piazzale
Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo. Map 4 E3.
@ 12, 13.
Of all the great Florentine
viewpoints – such as the
Duomo and Campanile – none
offers such a magnificent
panorama of the city as Piazzale
Michelangelo. Laid out in the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno from the heights of Piazzale Michelangelo
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

it_308-309_central_italy.indd 308 26/04/16 5:17 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm