Church of Sant'Egidio, Baroque church in central Florence, Italy
The Church of Sant'Egidio is a baroque church in the historic center of Florence, located near the Ospedale di Santa Maria Nuova. Inside, the space is decorated with ornate altarpieces and sculptural details that are typical of 17th-century religious buildings.
The church grew out of a medieval complex built alongside the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova and was rebuilt several times over the centuries. It took on its current baroque form in the 17th century, when that style was reshaping religious buildings across Florence.
The church is dedicated to Saint Egidius, the patron saint of the poor and those living on the margins of society. This connection to the vulnerable is still felt in the parish's active role in the local community today.
The church sits in the heart of Florence's historic center and is easy to reach on foot from many of the city's main sights. As an active place of worship, visitors should wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees before entering.
For centuries, the church was closely tied to the neighboring hospital of Santa Maria Nuova, one of the oldest hospitals still in use in the world. That bond between medical care and religious life shaped the building's role in ways that are no longer obvious to visitors today.
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