Chiostro Grande of Santa Maria Novella, Medieval cloister in Santa Maria Novella complex, Florence, Italy.
The Great Cloister of Santa Maria Novella is a rectangular courtyard surrounded by covered walkways with arched passages, and the walls display religious scenes painted in fresco. The passages are lined with these detailed frescoes that cover the upper sections and lunettes, creating a continuous gallery of religious imagery as you walk.
The cloister was built in the middle of the 14th century as part of the monastery, and later it was redesigned in the 16th century by architect Giulio Parigi at the request of a powerful family. These renovations gave the space its current form and updated it to match the artistic tastes of the time.
The frescoes depict scenes from Christ's life and Dominican saints, which held special meaning for the religious community that lived here. Walking around, you notice how these painted stories served to teach and inspire the monks who spent their daily lives in this peaceful space.
The cloister is open daily as part of the museum complex and can be reached from two different entrances on opposite sides of the building. It is a quiet space to walk through, though it sits in a busy area of the city, so it offers a peaceful retreat during your visit.
The western side of the cloister shows a rare arrangement where scenes from Saint Dominic's life are painted directly alongside scenes from Christ's life in matching positions. This side-by-side comparison allows you to see thematic connections between the saint's journey and the religious narrative in a way you might not immediately notice elsewhere in the complex.
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