Santa Margherita de' Cerchi, Medieval church in Historic Centre of Florence, Italy
Santa Margherita de' Cerchi is a 13th-century church in a narrow alley of Florence's historic center with Romanesque features like round-arch windows and stone walls. Its simple rectangular interior holds artworks and burial monuments from the merchant families who worshipped there.
The church was built in the 13th century and is linked to Dante's life, as he first saw Beatrice Portinari there. Later he married another woman in its walls, and it remained important to Florence's merchant families.
The church is linked to the Portinari family, whose members are buried here and whose stories shaped Florence's merchant class. The space reflects how families marked their place in the city through burial and worship.
The church opens during the day for visitors to explore the interior, artworks, and burial monuments. It sits in a narrow alley in the old city, so plan to search it out deliberately.
A basket near Beatrice's tomb collects letters from visitors seeking guidance in matters of the heart. This custom has persisted for years and shows how the church's story still touches people today.
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