Badia Fiorentina, Gothic abbey in central Florence, Italy
Badia Fiorentina is a Gothic abbey in central Florence distinguished by a tall stone bell tower and a cloister planted with orange trees. The courtyard is decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Saint Benedict.
The abbey was founded in 978 by Willa of Tuscany and later rebuilt in 1285 by the architect Arnolfo di Cambio, who introduced Gothic elements. This reconstruction shaped the structure visitors see today.
The abbey displays a painted altarpiece by Filippino Lippi showing the Virgin appearing to Saint Bernard, a work commissioned by a Florentine patron. This piece reveals the importance the community placed on religious art and its role in private devotion during the Renaissance.
Members of the Fraternità di Gerusalemme community gather three times daily for prayer, with evening mass at 6:30 PM and vespers at 6:00 PM open to visitors. It is best to check current opening hours and maintain quiet during prayer services.
The bell tower served as Florence's primary timekeeper during the Middle Ages, regulating the daily rhythm of the entire city through its chimes. Residents organized their activities around the bells that rang from the campanile.
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