Italy hotel booking - filcoo Italy hotels, hotel Italy, bed and breakfast Italy, bed&breakfast Italy, b&b Italy, Italy travel guide

Italy bed&breakfast and hotels: Reserve your accomodation online

Home

Edit & Cancel booking

Support

Hotels in Italy

Italy Travel Guide

Home > Italy Travel Guide > Florence Travel Guide > Basilica of St. Lawrence(Basilica di San Lorenzo)

Basilica of St. Lawrence

	Hotels in Italy		Hotels in Italy(Map)		Travel Guide		Travel Links

Introduction

The Basilica di San Lorenzo (Basilica of St Lawrence) is one of the largest churches of Florence, situated at the centre of the city's main market district. It was also the parish church of the Medici family. The Medicis gave large amounts of money and Michelangelo supplied designs for the facade but they were never implemented, so the bare bricks are still visible and to this day nobody has financed a facade.

History

It is said that the church of San Lorenzo was founded by St Ambrose in 393 outside the city walls of that time. It was rebuilt in the 11th century in the Romanesque style. For three hundred years it was the city's cathedral before eventually losing the status to Santa Reparata. It was that important exponent of Florentine Renaissance architecture, In 1419, Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Brunelleschi was commissioned to design it. The work was completed after his death but in accordance with his plans by Antonio Manetti (1447-1460). Pope Leo X, a member of the Medici family, had given Michelangelo the commission to design a facade in white Carrara marble in 1518. He made a wooden model, that shows how he adjusted the classical proportions of the facade, drawn to scale after the ideal proportions of the human body, to the greater height of the nave . The campanile dates from 1740.

Location

Address: Piazza San Lorenzo
Transit: Bus: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, 31, 32, 36, 37.

Interior

The Renaissance interior is huge, cool and airy and is lined with chapels. Brunelleschi's light, harmonious interior of the church displays the clear-cut articulation of Renaissance architecture: a beautiful marble pavement, columns with Corinthian capitals supporting the broad arches, an intricate coffered ceiling with delicate rosettes. The harmonious proportions of the church's side chapels, aisles and nave denote architecture of the highest order. Opening off the north transept is the domed Sagresta Vecchia (Old Sacristy), the oldest part of the present church, which contains the tombs of several members of the Medici family. It was the only part of the church completed in Brunelleschi's lifetime. Opposite it in the south transept is the Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacristy), begun in 1520 by Michelangelo, who also designed the Medici tombs within.

Medici Chapels

The most celebrated and grandest part of San Lorenzo is the Cappelle Medicee (Medici Chapels) in the apse. Although the Medici chapels form part of San Lorenzo they are now administered as a museum in their own right, separately from the church. The Medici were still paying for it when the last member of the family, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, died in 1743. Almost fifty lesser members of the family are buried in the crypt, designed by Bernardo Buontalenti. Above is the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), begun in 1604, a great domed octagonal hall where the grand dukes themselves are buried. At its centre was supposed to be the Holy Sepulchre itself, although attempts to buy and then steal it from Jerusalem failed.

Laurenziana Library

The Biblioteca Laurenziana, was built on to the church and its cloister (access to the Library is via the first floor of the cloister), owes its artistic importance, its architecture and its contents to the Medici family. The library was founded by Cosimo the Elder as a collection of documents and books and enlarged by Lorenzo the Magnificent. It was transferred to Rome but part of it was returned to Florence under Pope Clement VII (also a Medici), who gave orders for a building which gave the public access to the collection. Work started in 1524 to Michelangelo's designs. Despite the difficult external conditions - it had to be built on the weak foundations of a 13th century monastery - the library was consecrated in 1571. It shows that Michelangelo, who, after he left Florence in 1534, continued to take part in the building work by means of letters and models. The importance of the Biblioteca Laurenziana as a work of art is due to the three-dimensional articulation of the facade, the vestibule and the reading room, the staircases, and the confident use of all the decorative elements of Renaissance architecture. The collection of manuscripts includes important papers from Ancient Egypt and valuable manuscripts by Napoleon.

Works of Art

Bronzino (fresco of The Martyrdom of St Lawrence in the north aisle)
Desiderio da Settignano (Pala del Sacramento, tabernacle in the south aisle)
Donatello (two bronze pulpits, his last works; frieze, reliefs, tondi and bronze doors in the Sagrestia Vecchia)
Antonio del Pollaiuolo (wooden crucifix in the south transept chapel)
Fra Filippo Lippi (altarpiece of the Annunciation in the north transept chapel)
Rosso Fiorentino (Marriage of the Virgin in one of the south aisle chapels)
Verrocchio (tomb of Giovanni and Piero de Medici in the Sagrestia Vecchia)

Funerary Monuments

Bernardo Cennini (goldsmith and printer) (south transept)
Donatello (north transept)
Francesco Landini (south aisle)
Niccolo Martelli (north transept)
Cosimo de' Medici (in front of the high altar)
Cosimo I de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Cosimo II de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Cosimo III de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Ferdinando I de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Ferdinando II de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Ferdinando III de' Medici (crypt)
Francesco I de' Medici (Cappella dei Principi)
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (Sagrestia Vecchia)
Giovanni di Cosimo de' Medici (Sagrestia Vecchia)
Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici (Sagrestia Nuova)
Giuliano di Piero de' Medici (Sagrestia Nuova)
Lorenzo I de' Medici (Sagrestia Nuova)
Lorenzo II de' Medici (Sagrestia Nuova)
Piero di Cosimo de' Medici (Sagrestia Vecchia)

Useful information

Telephone: 055 216634
Open: 10:00 till 17:00 Monday to Saturday
Tips: Photography prohibited.

Links

Satellite image from WikiMapia

Infomation

Basilica of St. Lawrence(Basilica di San Lorenzo)

Hotel Reservations

* Destination:

*Arrival:
* Departure:

* Adults/Children:	/

Hotels in Florence(Firenze)
	Villa Le Maschere Barberino di Mugello

	Villa Montartino - Villa Le Piazzole Firenze
	Hotel Ville sull'Arno Firenze
	San Gallo Palace Firenze
	Hotel De Rose Palace Firenze
	Hotel i Ciliegi Reggello
	Wall Art Hotel Prato
	Hotel Gemini Casole d'Elsa
	Grand Hotel Adraitico Firenze
	Golden Tulip Mirage Hotel Firenze
	Diana Park Hotel Firenze
	Monsignor della Casa Country Borgo San Lorenzo
	Hotel Roma Firenze

	Hotel Colomba Firenze
	Hotel Alinari Firenze
	Hotel Alamanni Firenze
	Hotel Aurora Firenze
	Hotel Lido Firenze
	Hotel Morandi alla Crocetta Firenze
	Hotel Unicorno Firenze
	Hotel Palazzo Vecchio Firenze
	Royal Hotel Firenze
	Hotel Leopolda Firenze
	Hotel Beatrice Firenze
	Hotel Villa Ambrosina Tavarnuzze
	Hotel Relais Il Cestello Firenze
	Hotel City Firenze
	Hotel La Pergola Firenze
	Hotel Olimpia Firenze
	Auto Park Hotel Firenze
	Park Hotel Chianti Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
	Hotel Alba Firenze
	Hotel Goldoni Firenze
	Hotel Victoria Firenze
	Hotel La Fortezza Firenze
	Hotel Privilege Firenze
	Agriturismo Podere San Giusto Figline Valdarno
	Hotel Sempione Firenze
	Hotel Villa Liberty Firenze
	Hotel Corona d'Italia Firenze
	Hotel Jane Firenze
	Hotel Villa Azalee Firenze
	Hotel Byron Firenze
	Cellai Hotel Firenze
	Hotel Annabella Firenze
	Hotel Bigallo Firenze
	Hotel De Lanzi Firenze
	IL Piastrino B&B Vinci
	Hotel Rosary Garden Firenze
	Arti & Hotel Firenze
	Hotel La Porcinaia Tosi
	Villa dei Bosconi Fiesole
	Poderi Arcangelo San Gimignano
	Villa La Palagina Figline Valdarno
	Villa Il Crocicchio Reggello
	Villa Giotto Park Bivigliano
	Hotel Vasari Firenze

	Hotel Centro Firenze
	Hotel Serena Firenze
	Albergo Giotto Firenze
	Deco Firenze
	Hotel La Noce Firenze
	Hotel Lombardi Firenze
	Hotel Ungherese Firenze
	Hotel Collodi Firenze
	Hotel Santa Croce Firenze
	Hotel Alessandra Firenze
	Hotel Nizza Firenze
	Hotel Nuova Italia Firenze
	Hotel Genesio Firenze
	Hotel Varsavia Firenze
	Hotel Wanda Firenze
	Hotel Accademia Firenze
	Hotel Joli Firenze

	Hotel Regina Firenze
	Hotel Giappone Firenze
	Pensione Ferretti Firenze

	Residenza dei Pucci Firenze
	Pucci Suites Firenze
	Novecento Firenze
	A&A Firenze Firenze
	Florence Room Firenze
	In Florence Firenze
	Relais Il Campanile al Duomo Firenze
	Casa Cimabue Firenze
	Relais Cardinal Leopoldo Firenze
	Casa Rovai Firenze
	Poggio del Golf Ugolino, Impruneta
	Relais Del Duomo Firenze
	Leonardo's Rooms Pontassieve
	A Teatro Firenze
	La Residenza Del Proconsolo Firenze
	Residenza Il Colle Impruneta
	Soggiorno Isabella De'Medici Firenze
	Florence Old Bridge Firenze
	Agriturismo Il Pezzatino Rufina
	Cimatori Firenze
	Residenza D' Epoca Verdi Firenze
	La Chiara Di Prumiano Barberino Val d'Elsa
	Le Seggiole Firenze
	Villino La Magnolia Firenze
	Fattoria Di Lamole Greve In Chianti
	La Pietra Grezza Rignano Sull'Arno
	ISH Florence Florence
	Agriturismo Borgo De' Ricci Impruneta
	Locanda Montaguglione Scandicci
	Dany Housedue Firenze
	For Women Only Firenze
	Il Porcellino Tourist House Firenze
	Corte Armonica Relais Fiesole
	Villa I Barronci San Casciano Val di Pesa
	Tourist House Firenze
	Vecchia Firenze Firenze
	NinnaNanna Firenze
	Tenuta il Corno San Casciano Val di Pesa
	Residenza Betta Firenze
	Relais Chiara e Lorenzo Torri Rignano sull'Arno
	Msn Suites Palazzo dei Ciompi Firenze
	Alloro Firenze
	Soggiorno Madrid Firenze
	La Loggia Firenze
	Residenza il Maggio Firenze
	Eurohome Rama Signa
	San Frediano Mansion Firenze
	Le Contesse Firenze
	Argentiere Residence Firenze
	La Casa di Zarino Impruneta
	Ape Rosa Firenze
	Peterson Firenze
	Althea Rooms Firenze
	Abatjour Firenze

	Agriturismo La Cascianella Bagno a Ripoli
	Gemini Studio Firenze
	La Palazzina Impruneta
	Apartment Rentals Firenze
	Palazzo Branca Aria della Ripa Firenze
	Villa Torre Rossa Impruneta
	Alamanni apts Firenze
	Poggio Alla Pieve Calenzano
	Poggio Tre Lune Rignano Sull'Arno
	Il Colle Di Sotto Montelupo Fiorentino
	Casprini da Omero Greve in Chianti
	Residence La Repubblica Firenze
	Residence Panorama Figline Valdarno
	Agriturismo La Presura Greve In Chianti
	Residence La Contessina Firenze
	Residence il Cenacolo Firenze
	Romacale Rignano Sull'Arno
	Pergolato di Sotto San Casciano Val di Pesa
	Soggiorno Gloria Firenze
	Residence S\.Niccolò Firenze
	Residence Il Giglio Firenze
	Villa Antica Sosta Castelfiorentino
	Agriturismo La Sala Greve in Chianti
	Agriturismo Le Pozze Dicomano

	Villa "La Stella" Firenze
	La Spiga San Donnino di Campi Bisenzio
	Villa Terreno Rufina
	Quadra Key Residence Firenze
	Casa Vacanza Il Giuggiolo Cancelli di Reggello
	Marignolle Relais & Charme Firenze