Complesso di San Firenze (San Firenze Complex), Florence
At the edge of San Firenze Square, just a short stroll from the Uffizi Gallery, stands one of Florence鈥檚 most distinctive Baroque landmarks鈥攁 17th-century architectural ensemble that has served a variety of purposes over the centuries. During Italy鈥檚 鈥淩isorgimento鈥�, or national unification movement, the site played a key role by hosting major political gatherings. Nowadays, it blends religious, civic, and cultural functions, all under one historic roof, and remains a shining example of Florentine Baroque.
Among the complex鈥檚 highlights is the Oratory, now a venue for concerts and cultural events. Historically, it was used for religious instruction and community outreach by the Oratorians, a congregation known for their emphasis on education and service. Nearby, you鈥檒l find the Church of Saint Philip Neri, still fulfilling its role as a place of worship. Step inside to admire rich stucco decorations, gilded altars, striking frescoes on the ceiling, and a beautifully ornate organ鈥攁ll hallmarks of the dramatic Baroque style.
Another standout feature is the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation (open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM). Named after the acclaimed Florentine-born director, the foundation honors a career that spanned over seven decades. Zeffirelli is best known for his 1968 film 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥�, which earned him an Academy Award nomination, as well as 鈥淭ea with Mussolini鈥� and high-profile collaborations with stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. His impressive body of work includes 18 films, 31 theatrical productions, and over 100 operas鈥攁ll chronicled in a dedicated museum.
Visitors can unwind in the tearoom on the ground floor, which opens into a peaceful courtyard. Next door, a shop sells books and memorabilia related to Zeffirelli鈥檚 life and career鈥攁 perfect stop for film lovers looking to connect more deeply with his legacy.
Among the complex鈥檚 highlights is the Oratory, now a venue for concerts and cultural events. Historically, it was used for religious instruction and community outreach by the Oratorians, a congregation known for their emphasis on education and service. Nearby, you鈥檒l find the Church of Saint Philip Neri, still fulfilling its role as a place of worship. Step inside to admire rich stucco decorations, gilded altars, striking frescoes on the ceiling, and a beautifully ornate organ鈥攁ll hallmarks of the dramatic Baroque style.
Another standout feature is the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation (open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM). Named after the acclaimed Florentine-born director, the foundation honors a career that spanned over seven decades. Zeffirelli is best known for his 1968 film 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥�, which earned him an Academy Award nomination, as well as 鈥淭ea with Mussolini鈥� and high-profile collaborations with stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. His impressive body of work includes 18 films, 31 theatrical productions, and over 100 operas鈥攁ll chronicled in a dedicated museum.
Visitors can unwind in the tearoom on the ground floor, which opens into a peaceful courtyard. Next door, a shop sells books and memorabilia related to Zeffirelli鈥檚 life and career鈥攁 perfect stop for film lovers looking to connect more deeply with his legacy.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Florence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Complesso di San Firenze (San Firenze Complex) on Map
Sight Name: Complesso di San Firenze (San Firenze Complex)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Florence, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Florence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Medici Landmarks Walking Tour
The Medici family helped to establish Florence as the single most important art capital of Renaissance Europe. In order to prove wealth and power, they built numerous palaces, libraries, churches, chapels and personal residences. The Medicis were big lovers of art and they acquired huge, expensive collections, as well as supporting many sculptors and painters of the time.
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Designed by... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Florence Food Tour
Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here 鈥� besides the abundant variety 鈥� is not having to spend a lot of money for it.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In general, the 鈥渙sterias鈥� and the eateries nestled in Sant鈥橝mbrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour
Right in the heart of historic Florence lies the Duomo district鈥攖he city's religious and civic core, and one of the most remarkable places in all of Italy. Between the Duomo and Signoria squares, Florence unfolds in layers of art, history, and architectural brilliance, offering a never-ending stream of things to see, do, and admire.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
At the center of it all stands the Florence Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour
The area south of the Arno River鈥攌nown as Oltrarno, or 鈥淏eyond the Arno鈥濃�攐ffers a quieter, more intimate side of Florence, but one that鈥檚 no less captivating. It鈥檚 here that you鈥檒l find the grand Pitti Palace, home to a painting collection rivaled only by the Uffizi Gallery, and the expansive Boboli Gardens, once the private domain of the Medici and later, the royal family. As one of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour
Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning 鈥渇lowering鈥� or 鈥渇lourishing鈥�.
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour
Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest 鈥� albeit also most controversial 鈥� of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities 鈥� including the banishing of several rivals 鈥� led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, 鈥淭he Divine Comedy鈥�, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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