Another trip to Firenze - part 1

When I heard that my friend Sandra from South Australia was going to be in Florence/Firenze when we were in Panicale, I thought this would be a good opportunity to meet up for the day. 
Again we did the train trip from Castiglione del Lago, leaving home at 7.20 am and arriving back at 7.10 pm. What a lovely day we had.

Sandra had her list of places to see and as the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella was the nearest to the station we went there first.

Originally a Dominican Monastery, it was built by the friars between 1279 and 1357  partly on an older base. The exterior is deceptive as this is a massive complex with the main church, many chapels, an internal cemetery, the refectory, the small and the large cloisters all open to view.

The collection of art works is worth the visit alone. The most notable being Masaccio's Trinità, the Ghirlandaio frescoes behind the main altar and the Giotto free standing Crucifix.

Trinità by Tommaso Guidi, called Masaccio - 1424.

Frescoes in the Tornabuoni Chapel by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his school 

1485 - 90.

Giotto Crucifix - 1288.

This 17th century ironwork gate to a chapel is noteworthy.

The internal cemetery had interesting stones dating back centuries and it was in this area that we could see how high the flood waters had come on numerous occasions when the Arno River has broken its banks. Many frescoes have been damaged beyond repair.

Frescoed ceilings in room off the small cloister.

The Grand Cloister has a series of frescoes around the walls telling of the life and work of San Domenico and his followers.

An example, the death of San Domenico.

Another vignette - The  meeting of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis.

Sandra and I sat to further contemplate this amazing fresco cycle.

It was certainly lunch time by the time we emerged from the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

I must say that I struggle with paying high entry prices to enter churches. On this occasion it was €7.50 (A$12) each, but there is quality art and so much else to see that it was worth paying the entry fee. Also as the ticket said 'Thanks to you the past will always continue to have a future', and that is a very valid point.

                                                                                                                To be continued