Chiostro di Santo Spirito, Religious complex in Ferrara, Italy.
The Chiostro di Santo Spirito is a religious complex in Ferrara featuring a large church with expansive interior spaces. The compound includes a cloister, chapter house, refectory, and various other connected rooms that follow the traditional layout of a monastic complex.
Construction of the Santo Spirito began in 1519 under Duke Alfonso I d'Este as a religious initiative. An earthquake in 1570 caused significant damage, necessitating extensive restoration work on the structure.
The church displays five painted rose windows from the Garofalo school, created in the 16th century and still visible in the chapter house spaces. These artworks represent a key artistic tradition that took root in the region during that era.
The complex is located in the city of Ferrara and can be accessed through various entrances that lead to the interior spaces. Today the building houses the Institute of Contemporary History and student housing, so certain areas may be restricted for public viewing.
Inside the church stands a statue of Saint Anthony that reportedly moved its head for a brief moment on June 13, 1770. This event remains one of the most unusual moments in the location's history and is documented by various local accounts.
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