San Domenico, Pistoia, Gothic church in Pistoia, Italy
San Domenico is a Romanesque and Gothic church on Piazza San Domenico in Pistoia, with its north flank along Corso Silvani Fedi. The complex includes a large cloister, the 14th-century Portico della Maddalena, and the 16th-century cloister of Fra' Paolino, whose paintings date to 1528–1536.
Construction of the building began in the mid-13th century, when Dominican friars first used a small prayer house for preaching. Over the decades, the structure evolved into the complex church ensemble visible today.
The name of the adjoining cloister, Chiostro di fra' Paolino, recalls the Dominican painter Fra Paolino, a follower of Savonarola who worked for this church. His Adoration of the Magi and Holy Conversation were painted here; the latter is now in San Paolo. The large cloister carries a fresco cycle of the Life of Saint Dominic by Sebastiano Vini.
The building is easily accessible on foot from the city center and opens during regular hours for visitors. Guided tours help visitors understand the architectural details and the medieval frescoes covering the walls.
Benozzo Gozzoli did not die in 1497 in Florence but in this convent in Pistoia, as recorded by the sources. The painter Fra Paolino, a Dominican follower of Savonarola, later painted an Adoration of the Magi and a Holy Conversation for this church; the latter is now in San Paolo. The convent was suppressed in 1783 and the Dominicans only returned in 1928.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,009 contributors worldwide.