SANTA CROCE AND CAPPELLA DEI PAZZI

The Franciscan Basilica of Santa Croce, traditionally attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, was begun in the late 1300s, but not consecrated until 1443. For more than a century there increased the collective sepulchres of houndreds of families from all parts of the city,and a large number of men,famous in their life-time,had the privilege of a last resting-place here.IIt's one of Italy's most beautiful Gothic churches, though the façade, in white and green Carrara marble, was done by Niccolò Matas, who is said to have followed a design prepared by Cronaca. It has the same architectural scheme as Santa Maria Novella: Greek "T" plan,with a nave and two aisles and chapels at the end.Elegant pillars,pointed arches,trestling in the main nave,cross-vaulting over the aisles and chapels. The church has many works of art, including an octagonal Renaissance marble pulpit by Benedetto da Maiano, Rosselino's tomb of Leonardo Bruni, which is the prototype of Florentine 15th century tombs, and two works by Donatello, an Annunciation and a wooden Crucifix.

The frescos of the Peruzzi chapel, which were painted over in 1714 and rediscovered in 1852, are, together with the scenes of the Life of Saint Francis in the Bardi Chapel, among Giotto's most mature works. The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce boasts some of Florence's major treasures, with works by Cimabue, Orcagna, Donatello, Domenico Veneziano and others; alas, some were badly damaged by the 1966 flood.

The Pazzi Chapel

At the end of the cloisters a colonnade leads to a beautiful 15th century doorway by Giuliano da Maiano, which in turn leads to the Cappella de'Pazzi, one of Brunelleschi's masterpieces. He began it in 1443 at the request of Andrea de'Pazzi, but died before completing the façade, which has remained unfinished though others did work on it. The arches support a cupola with twelve ribs, which is lit by small windows in the lunettes. The roundels of white glazed terracotta on blue are by Luca della Robbia.

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