Santa Maria Sopra Porta, Romanesque church near Piazza di Parte Guelfa, Florence, Italy
Santa Maria Sopra Porta is a Romanesque church located on Via Pellicceria in central Florence. The building impresses with its simple design, featuring thick stone walls and rounded arches characteristic of the Romanesque style.
The church was founded in 1038, making it one of Florence's oldest buildings. Over the centuries it suffered severe fires that destroyed large portions of its interior.
The structure transformed from a Roman Catholic place of worship to become the library of the Palazzo di Parte Guelfa.
The church is located near Piazza di Parte Guelfa and is easily reached on foot. Visitors should know that the interior space is now partly used as a library.
The building has abandoned its original religious purpose and now serves as a reading room within the neighboring Palazzo di Parte Guelfa. This conversion preserves the medieval structure while giving the old space a new function.
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