Santi Simone e Giuda, Renaissance church in Florence, Italy.
Santi Simone e Giuda is a Renaissance church in Florence featuring a marble altar and a decorated ceiling designed by Gherardo Silvani. The building sits between Piazza Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria in the city center, and today it serves the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community.
The church was founded in 1243 as a small chapel outside the city walls. It underwent major renovation in 1630 when Gherardo Silvani redesigned the interior following water damage from past floods.
The church displays emblems from the Galilei family and the Knights of Malta on its walls. These symbols tell the story of noble families who worshipped here and supported the building over centuries.
The church sits conveniently between two major squares in central Florence and is easy to reach on foot. Keep in mind it serves as an active place of worship, so visitors should be respectful of any services or prayers taking place.
The great Arno flood of 1527 severely damaged the church and destroyed its original wooden tabernacle completely. This disaster ultimately prompted the decision to eventually redesign the entire building.
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