• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
    • Photo Use Policy
  • Recipe Index
    • American Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Videos
  • Presets

Savoring Italy logo

December 1, 2014

Tour Florence-Santa Maria Novella: Piazza, Church and Art a guest post by Tiana Kai

0shares
Tour Florence-Santa Maria Novella

To properly tour Florence you must uncover history and art—in addition to lots and lots of food and wine—and in the churches there’s both and lots of it. I decided to take myself for a tour by spending an afternoon in Santa Maria Novella’s area. I hope to do the same for each area/piazza—there’s lots to cover, so wish me luck!

Piazza Santa Maria Novella

SMN (Santa Maria Novella) is where I spend lots of time because it’s close to a few family businesses and the closest piazza to the train station. It’s easy to get to and a two minute walk to the Duomo or the Arno.

On a good day there’ll lots of people (tourist) sitting on the modern benches hanging out. There’s a guy who plays music in the late afternoons who’s the quintessential American folk singer. It’s nice to listen to him while you’re walking by or taking a break with some gelato and waiting for friends.

On a bad it’s speckled with gypsies and people asking to sign petitions. If you’re into cheap sunglasses and poor prints of Dalí then this piazza is for you. It’s still very safe and close to many hotels.

The newly installed grass and flowers brighten it up, so it looks more presentable and has been known to host large meditation circles—they Om and everything. This piazza is full of surprises!

Santa Maria Novella church & art

For just € 5 (free for Florence residents) you can tour Santa Maria Novella, which includes the Basilica, Spanish Chapel (my favorite!) and the many cloisters.

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella 

It’s the oldest basilica in Florence and the easiest to find because it’s across from the train station. This Dominican church has works of Gothic and early Renaissance art like sculptures, paintings, frescoes and woodwork dating back from the late 12th century to 15th century.

The black and white marble beams and arches are what drew me in the most. It’s home (tombs) to important men like Antonio Strozzi and it’s lit up with intricate stained glass from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The most eye catching artwork is The Crucifix by Giotto which is hung over the alter. There are also side chapels within the basilica where other treasures are preserved like the Crucifix by Brunelleschi. The largest of the chapels is the Tornabuoni Chapel. All have their own personality and workmanship.

The Spanish Chapel

I was extremely moved the second I stepped foot into the Spanish Chapel. It was built in the mid-1300′s and initially called Guidalotti Chapel. It was later referred to as the Spanish Chapel in 1566 when Cosimo I assigned it to his wife Eleonora of Toledo for a place where fellow Spaniards could use it for religious purposes.

What I loved is that there were grids explaining the frescoes to help explain the continuous narrative of what’s depicted. The colors jump out as if they were painted in this century, a must see!

The Cloisters

‘Cloisters’ meaning enclosure for monks or nuns hold an endless amount of tombs. The tombs are all marble with beautiful etchings. These three cloisters deserve a pass since there’s some great artwork weaved between them.

SMN map and hours

Thank you for this amazing guest post, Tiana!

Photo credits: Tiana Kai

Here is where you can find more of Tiana:

TIANA

http://instagram.com/tianapix

https://twitter.com/TianaKaiMiami

https://www.facebook.com/tianakaimadera

http://www.pinterest.com/tianapix/

0shares

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Firenze, Florence, Italia, Italy, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Savoring Italy, Tiana Kai, Tuscany

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Lora


I am madly and passionately in love with Italy, its food, history, language and people. It thrills me to share my immense passion for Italy and its incredible food in stories and recipes here with all of you.
Read More

Subscribe to Our Mailing List

Buy Our Presets!

FREE MOBILE FOOD LIGHTROOM PRESET

INSTAGRAM

Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2157419618448019767_197533052 A sea of motos...life in #Florence. I sort of forget to post on my IG. I spend more time on my site posting delish recipes (pass by savoringitaly.com and see my latest pizza post!🍕). So here I am finally with a photo I loved from this summer!!! Happy weekend @instagram friends 🤩🥰
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2138568083300479039_197533052 I’m a little slow with catching up my Instagram with my latest recipes!! But you have to make this Blueberry Lemon Shortbread Tart ...so easy and so lovely for an afternoon coffee break. Happy Sunday, @instagram friends! 😊
Recipe: https://www.savoringitaly.com/blueberry-lemon-cornmeal-shortbread-tart/
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2137206960298998232_197533052 Number 20 caught my eye somewhere in Aosta🥰. Wishing all my @instagram friends a great weekend!! 🤩
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2135189241494746084_197533052 Enjoying end of summer watermelon? 🍉Make this watermelon rind jam...it’s so good and the perfect way to preserve summer flavors 🍉
Recipe: https://www.savoringitaly.com/watermelon-rind-jam/

Or search watermelon on savoringitaly.com 🍉
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2128612991431515579_197533052 Somewhere around the corner: Florence ❤️ Wishing all my @instagram friends a beautiful Sunday 💙
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2122697504562576430_197533052 Pomodori Gratinati (Tomato Gratin)  are a perfect way to use up summer’s sweet and juicy tomatoes 🍅
Totally VEGAN and just delicious!!
Recipe: https://www.savoringitaly.com/tomato-gratin-pomodori-gratinati/
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2119192225933897321_197533052 Florence is always inspiring and beautiful 💙
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2114846706436410863_197533052 Tomatoes all summer long! My latest pasta dish is #ontheblog !
Part of #freshsummer with my friend @aggieskitchen 🥰❤️
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2114120764135204076_197533052 Como views ☀️
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2111801108921677934_197533052 Baking with blueberries (and mangoes 🥭)every week this summer ❤️💙
Recipe: https://www.savoringitaly.com/blueberry-mango-buckle/
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2107351501663777937_197533052 A magical corner of Bologna...yes, not Venice❤️💙.
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2105444023648859737_197533052 What do you do with mangoes from your tree (yes, we have a gorgeous mango tree!) Make mango salsa!!🤩❤️
Grab this link for the recipe: https://www.savoringitaly.com/mango-salsa/ 🤩
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2102466324265277450_197533052 Brunelleschi’s Dome ❤️ Dreaming always of #Florence💙
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2100870513991553933_197533052 Views of Summer in Rimini 2019. ☀️💙
Link to display lightbox
Instagram post 2098821029518115740_197533052 July 2019. 💙Sunset on Lago di Pusiano💙☀️

What’s Trending

Nocatole-Calabrian Sweet Fritters

Best Ever Italian Sausage Stuffing

Salted Caramel Apple Pie

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa, Dried Cranberries, and Pinoli

Archives

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Videos
  • Presets
  • Podcast
  • Travel to Italy

Follow Savoring Italy

Get Posts Straight to Your Inbox!

Copyright © 2019 · Savoring Italy · Log in