Visiting
Gravestone of Dante
Gravestone of Michelangelo
Architects and sculptors, poets and composers, scientists and artists are buried either have received a commemorative plaque here.
Some gravestones are impressive in themselves, as works of art. A good example is the Michelangelo's gravestone by Vasari, that we know from numerous photos. Or the gravestone of Machiavelli.
Galileo and Fermi, Dante and Rossini, Alfieri and Oginsky - you go by and do not believe your eyes.
The church of Santa Maria Novella
This church (also basilica) was built in the 14th Century by Dominicans for their monastery and of course for their community.
Unfortunately it is not allowed to photograph here - unlike in the Baptistery and in the Santa Croce. Therefore, we focus on the beautiful facade (which is for some reason not mentioned at all by Ruskin).
This geometrically sophisticated proportional marble facade was built by the prominent architect Leon Battista Alberti. It was a commission by Giovanni Paolo
Rucellai, which took place much later than the construction of the church itself. Uppermost part of the facade is adorned with the community and monastery emblem in the form of a flaming sun. (Many internet sites claim, for some reason, that would be the emblem of the Dominicans. The Order of the Dominicans, however, have two emblems and they are different from this one - one with Dominican cross with lilies and one with a coat.)
The lower frieze of the façade is decorated with the emblem of the Rucellai family - with sails, puffed by the wind.
Behind this wonderful facade is stored - among other treasures - a fresco by Masaccio, one of the greatest works of the early Renaissance.
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