Santa Maria del Santo Spirito Basilica, Florence

The Basilica of Santo Spirito, in Florence

The Basilica of Santo Spirito is a masterpiece of Brunelleschi, in the heart of the Oltrarno district. The Florence audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this sanctuary of perfect harmony, one of the finest churches of the Florentine Renaissance.

The Renaissance masterpiece of Brunelleschi

The Basilica of Santo Spirito, the church of the Holy Spirit, is one of the masterpieces of Filippo Brunelleschi, the genius of Renaissance architecture to whom we also owe the dome of the cathedral. He designed the plans of this church in 1444, but died two years later, before seeing its completion, which was continued by others. Located on the square of the same name, in the heart of the Oltrarno district, the basilica presents a sober and bare exterior façade. But it is inside that the whole genius of Brunelleschi is revealed: a space of perfect harmony and clarity, punctuated by rows of elegant columns, based on rigorous mathematical proportions, which embody the ideal of beauty of the Renaissance. The basilica also shelters works of art, including a wooden crucifix attributed to the young Michelangelo. A major sanctuary and a jewel of architecture, the Basilica of Santo Spirito is discovered with respect.

What to see

You admire, with respect, the masterpiece of Brunelleschi, of which he designed the plans in 1444, with a sober façade and an interior of perfect harmony punctuated by rows of elegant columns with rigorous proportions, which also shelters a wooden crucifix attributed to the young Michelangelo, in the heart of the Oltrarno. The Basilica of Santo Spirito is a jewel of the Renaissance of Florence. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Basilica of Santo Spirito lies on the square of the same name, in the Oltrarno district, in Florence, reachable on foot. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; access and hours follow their own conditions, which vary. It is best to check them before coming and to respect the sacred character of the place.

Who designed the Basilica of Santo Spirito in Florence?

Filippo Brunelleschi, the genius of Renaissance architecture, who designed its plans in 1444 but died two years later; the interior, of perfect harmony punctuated by elegant columns, is one of his masterpieces.