Spanish chapelle, Medieval chapel in Santa Maria Novella monastery, Florence, Italy.
The Spanish Chapel is a worship space within the Green Cloister of the monastery, with walls completely covered by frescoes. These paintings display religious scenes, some of them very large and detailed, depicting various moments from church teachings.
The room was created around the middle of the 14th century and was initially a regular part of the monastery. Only centuries later, in the 16th century, did Spanish residents begin using it for their own religious gatherings.
The chapel displays frescoes that present Dominican teachings through scenes painted across its walls. Visitors can observe how religious ideas were translated into images to teach people through art.
The space is located in a quiet corner of the cloister and can usually be entered through a portal with carved details. Natural light enters through older arched windows, which is important for photography and viewing.
A fascinating detail shows white and black dogs fighting against wolves, representing monks in medieval visual language. This symbol was a type of visual code used to make complex theological ideas understandable to believers.
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