San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto, Renaissance church in Florence, Italy.
San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto is a Catholic church on via Monte Oliveto in Florence, part of a former monastic complex rebuilt in Michelozzo's forms in 1454. Its interior is a single nave with cross vaults, holding the Sodoma Last Supper fresco detached from the refectory, frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti of around 1608, and two figured holy-water stoups, one carved by Giovanni Battista Caccini with the Vestal Tuccia.
The site began as a monastery established by Olivetan monks in 1334, establishing the religious foundation for the place. Construction of the present church started in 1454 under architect Michelozzo, transforming the location into a Renaissance statement.
The name Monte Oliveto refers to the Olivetan monks who founded the monastery in 1334, and the church is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew. Two figurative holy water stoups face each other: on the right the Vestal Tuccia by Giovanni Battista Caccini, on the left Claudia, carved by the Fleming Francesco Bostrinis in 1676. Several works once here now hang elsewhere: Leonardo's Annunciation is at the Uffizi, and panels by Lorenzo Monaco and Santi di Tito are at the Galleria dell'Accademia.
The church stands on via Monte Oliveto, southwest of the historic centre near the Boboli Gardens area, and is reached on foot or by city bus. It is an active place of worship, so visits are fitted around services; modest dress is expected. The single nave makes orientation simple: the Sodoma fresco and the two figured holy-water stoups are the pieces to seek out.
The church once held Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation, now at the Uffizi, along with panels by Lorenzo Monaco and Santi di Tito that moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia. Inside, look at the two figured holy-water stoups: Giovanni Battista Caccini carved the Vestal Tuccia on the right, while the Fleming Francesco Bostrinis made Claudia on the left in 1676.
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