Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Florence
This is a place of devotion dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a revered title for the Virgin Mary. First built in the late 13th century, the building鈥檚 surviving Romanesque-Gothic exterior offers a glimpse into its medieval origins. But the church鈥檚 story took a dramatic turn in the 1700s when a fire ravaged through, sparing only one section: the now-famous Brancacci Chapel.
That chapel is one of the cornerstones of early Renaissance art. Work began in 1425, when Masolino da Panicale was commissioned to paint its walls. He soon brought in a young apprentice, Masaccio, just 21 years old at the time. Masaccio鈥檚 contributions turned out to be groundbreaking鈥攈is naturalistic figures and bold use of perspective would shape the future of Western painting. Sadly, he died just three years later, leaving the work incomplete. The frescoes remained unfinished until decades later, when Filippino Lippi added his own touch, completing the chapel in harmony with Masaccio鈥檚 vision.
Another notable part of the church is the Corsini Chapel, created for one of Florence鈥檚 most prominent families during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was built in 1675 to house the remains of Andrea Corsini, a nobleman-turned-Carmelite friar and Bishop of Fiesole, who was later canonized. The chapel is a textbook example of Florentine Baroque, and features a lovely dome frescoed in 1682. Look up, and you鈥檒l see the ceiling brought to life by Giovanni Domenico Ferretti鈥攈is Rococo style adds a dramatic flair that still stands out centuries later.
That chapel is one of the cornerstones of early Renaissance art. Work began in 1425, when Masolino da Panicale was commissioned to paint its walls. He soon brought in a young apprentice, Masaccio, just 21 years old at the time. Masaccio鈥檚 contributions turned out to be groundbreaking鈥攈is naturalistic figures and bold use of perspective would shape the future of Western painting. Sadly, he died just three years later, leaving the work incomplete. The frescoes remained unfinished until decades later, when Filippino Lippi added his own touch, completing the chapel in harmony with Masaccio鈥檚 vision.
Another notable part of the church is the Corsini Chapel, created for one of Florence鈥檚 most prominent families during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was built in 1675 to house the remains of Andrea Corsini, a nobleman-turned-Carmelite friar and Bishop of Fiesole, who was later canonized. The chapel is a textbook example of Florentine Baroque, and features a lovely dome frescoed in 1682. Look up, and you鈥檒l see the ceiling brought to life by Giovanni Domenico Ferretti鈥攈is Rococo style adds a dramatic flair that still stands out centuries later.
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Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
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