Santo Stefano degli Agostiniani, Gothic church in Empoli, Italy.
Santo Stefano degli Agostiniani is a Gothic church in Empoli with a long main hall and multiple side chapels along its walls. The building features two entrances on Via dei Neri and holds eight chapels on the sides plus three more in the rear section.
Augustinian friars established the church in 1367 and gradually expanded it. Under Prior Michele da Empoli between 1390 and 1432, construction work reached its peak.
The chapel on the left side showing Saint Nicholas protecting the city reveals how people looked to this church for protection during difficult times. Such imagery shows how deeply religious faith shaped daily life and the community's sense of safety.
The best time to visit is on weekdays when fewer people are exploring the chapels. Admission is included in a combined ticket with the adjacent museum, so plan time for both sites.
One of the earliest known depictions of Empoli as a city appears in a chapel on the left side of the church. This image reveals how medieval artists preserved visual records of their home towns within religious artwork.
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