7 days in Italy-5-19 to 5/25/2022

Day 2- Florence-5/20/2022

Badia (Abbey) Fiorentina

The Badia (Abbey) Fiorentina was founded in 978 by Willa, the window of the Marquis Uberto of Toscana, located in the heart of the ancient city and is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the city.

Their son, Count Ugo was buried inside the church in 1001.  In 1285 the church underwent a radical Gothic-style renovation by Arnolfo di Cambio, who changed its orientation with the apse towards via del Proconsolo.  Legend tell that it is in this church that Dante saw his beloved Beatrice for the 1st time.

Today the Badia is home to a congregation of monks and nuns known as the Fraternity of Jerusalem.

Our apartment is in the old city so it is really convenient to walk around and see all the historic site.

Street leading to the abbey.

The bell tower view from Via del Proconsolo.  The top is gothic (after 1330) and the bottom is Romanesque (10th century).

It is and undoubted landmark, and its bells used to mark out the working day in Florence.

The bell tower is visible from the most extreme corners of the city.

At the entrance of the Abbey, a large sculpture on a bench.

Sculpture by Timothy Schwmalz,  I was naked and you clothed me.

Donated by Jack E. Angela Connellly family, Tacoma, WA- Ja1/9/2019

The Cloister of the Oranges was built around 1435 on a project by Bernardo Rossellino. 

View of the upper floor of the cloister.

View of the Bell tower from the cloister.

The hexagonal bell tower gets mentioned by Dante in the Paradiso section of the Divine Comedy.

The entrance of the Museum.  It was closed so we did not get a chance to get in.

Sculpture of the grand mother going to the wood in the Red Riding Hood.

The interior was further altered in the 18th century and is a mixture of styles.  It is dominated by an intricate carved wooden ceiling.

Elaborate carved wooden ceiling made in in 1631 by Felice Gamberai,

View of the altar from the entrance.  On the far left you will see the painting of the Virgin appearing to St. Bernard (Details below).

This painting is the church's greatest masterpiece.  The Virgin appearing to St. Bernard, painted by Filippino Lippi around 1482.

The altar.

Closer look at the Altar.

Grave of Ugo,  Count of Tuscany

One of the many chapels inside the abbey.

The organ is way above.

The organ is dated from 1717

Opening letting natural light inside the Abbey.  We are now done with the visit.

NEXT.... Day 2-Piazza della Signoria