Santo Spirito, Minor basilica in Oltrarno, Florence, Italy.
Santo Spirito is a minor basilica in Florence with a cross-shaped layout, white walls, and gray stone columns dividing the interior space. The church features multiple aisles and numerous altars arranged along the sides of the main hall.
Construction started in 1252, but the current Renaissance design came from Filippo Brunelleschi, with later work by other architects. This redesign transformed the building into a key example of Renaissance church architecture.
The church served as a gathering place for scholars interested in ancient texts, where they exchanged ideas and studied classical works. This intellectual focus shaped the character of the community that lived and worked here.
The space is straightforward to navigate, with clear paths between columns and altars throughout the church. You can take your time exploring the artwork and architectural features at your own pace.
Michelangelo created a wooden sculpture here and used the attached convent hospital to study human anatomy through dissection. This detail shows the close link between artists and scientific practice during the Renaissance.
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