San Felice, Florence

Church of Saint Felix
(Chiesa di San Felice in Piazza)

Exterior from the Piazza San Felice.
Basic information
Location Florence, Italy
Geographic coordinates Coordinates: 43°45′54.18″N 11°14′51.37″E / 43.7650500°N 11.2476028°E / 43.7650500; 11.2476028
Affiliation Roman Catholic
Province Florence
Architectural description
Architectural type Church
Architectural style Renaissance façade
The interior

The Chiesa di San Felice (Church of St Felix) is a Roman Catholic church in Florence, region of Tuscany, Italy. It is located on the south bank of the River Arno, just west of the Pitti Palace. It is predominantly Gothic, but has a Renaissance façade by Michelozzo, added in 1457. Over the high altar is a large Crucifix attributed to Giotto or his school.

A church at the site was built about the 10th-century outside one of the gates of early walls of Florence. It first belonged to the Monastery of San Silvestro of Nonantola, and in 1413 it was transferred to the Camaldolese Order. In 1552, it became property of the Dominican nuns of San Pietro Martire. The church provided a sanctuary to women fleeing from abusive husbands.

The interior had a Madonna with Child and Saints by Ridolfo Ghirlandaio. Another chapel has a fresco by Giovanni da San Giovanni, depicting San Felice reviving St Massimo; the angels gathering the grapes in the painting are by Baldassare Franceschini. It had a triptych (1467) by Neri di Bicci, depicting St Augustin and St John Baptist, and St Julian and King St Sigismond. Another chapel had a Madonna and Child with St Hyacinth, by Jacopo da Empoli.[1] The church has a Last Supper by Matteo Rosselli.

References

  1. ↑ Saunterings in Florence: a new artistic and practical hand-book, by Elvira Griffin, page 378.
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