Santi Apostoli, Romanesque church building in central Florence, Italy.
Santi Apostoli is a Romanesque church in central Florence with a three-aisle layout supported by green marble columns from Prato. The capitals come from ancient Roman buildings and show how medieval builders reused classical elements for their own structures.
Construction of this church began in the year 1001, though a stone carving on its facade claims that Charlemagne founded it around 800. This conflicting account reflects how medieval communities sometimes traced their origins to grander historical figures and earlier periods.
The church carries a direct link to the Crusades through three pieces of flint from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that remain on display. These relics shape how locals and visitors understand the building's role in medieval religious life and devotion.
The church sits in an easy-to-reach location near the Ponte Vecchio and remains open to visitors during weekday hours. Visiting outside of service times helps you explore the building and its architectural details without interruption.
The Piazza del Limbo in front of the church once served as a burial ground for unbaptized children during medieval times, reflecting beliefs about their spiritual status. This square now stands as a quiet reminder of these forgotten burials and the passage of centuries.
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