Sant'Agostino, Gothic church in Colle di Val d'Elsa, Italy.
Sant'Agostino is a Gothic church laid out in a Latin cross with three naves separated by Tuscan columns that support semicircular arches above barrel vaults with lunettes. A bell tower added in 1900 displays three levels of windows featuring single, double, and triple Gothic openings that define its exterior.
Construction of the church began in 1305 and it underwent major renovation in 1531 under architect Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. These rebuilding efforts shaped the building's current structure and character.
The right nave holds a Baroque altar commissioned by the Cini family, topped with a gilded wooden canopy and displaying a copy of the Holy Face painted by Florentine artist Carlo Dolci. This ornamental addition reflects the family's wealth and standing in the community.
Enter from the front to best experience the interior layout, where the rows of columns help orient you through the different sections. Take time to examine the column details and vaulting as you move through the space.
The incomplete facade reveals medieval construction methods through its stepped stone structure with traces of a planned pointed-arch lunette above the portal. This unfinished appearance gives visitors a rare glimpse into how these buildings were actually made.
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