Castellani Chapel

Castellani Chapel is a room within the Basilica of Santa Croce featuring wall and vault frescoes by Agnolo Gaddi depicting religious stories and saints. The space also holds monumental tombs of foreign residents who lived in Florence, along with a marble altar and artworks by other masters from later periods.

The space was built as part of the larger basilica but underwent major changes in the early 1800s, gaining a new entrance and a marble altar. This renovation allowed it to serve as a winter worship space and burial ground for foreigners residing in the city.

The space reflects the religious devotions of the time, with painted images of saints in false niches showing which figures mattered most to the Franciscan order. These visual choices reveal what believers valued and honored during their prayers here.

This space is accessed as part of the larger basilica, and you can view the painted walls and monuments from different angles within the room. It is worth spending time to observe the frescoes and tomb details without rushing through.

The ceiling paintings include optical illusions where saints appear to stand in real niches even though they are painted flat on the surface. This artistic trick was popular in the Renaissance and shows the skill of the painters in creating depth.