The Church of Santo Spirito
The Church of Santo Spirito stands on Piazza Santo Spirito, which you can reach from the Duomo (cathedral) by taking Via Roma and the streets that continue it, Via Calimala and Via Por Santa Maria. Cross the Ponte Vecchio to reach Piazza de' Pitti. Then turn right into the Sdrucciolo de' Pitti until you come out onto the square.
Address: Piazza Santo Spirito
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00. Sunday and public holidays, 11:30–13:30 and 15:00–18:00. Closed on Wednesday.
Admission: free for the church. Augustinian route (sacristy with Michelangelo's crucifix, cloister, refectory): €2.
Its construction began in 1443 to plans by Brunelleschi, to replace the old 13th-century church. The work was completed in 1487 by one of his pupils.
The facade was never finished, and in 1758 a pediment flanked by two volutes was added.
The interior, a Latin cross with three naves, is lined with 40 chapels. Brunelleschi innovated by continuing the colonnade beyond the transept. The use of pietra serena further accentuates the lightness of the whole.
The altar and its baldachin of polychrome marbles, hard stones and bronzes are the work of Giovan Battista Caccini. The chapels contain a great many works of art. Among them, a Virgin and Child with Saints by Filippino Lippi, or the predella of the altarpiece by Andrea del Sarto.
The sacristy
Pass under the organ to reach it. It was built from 1488 to 1492 by Giuliano da Sangallo and Cronaca, who drew on Brunelleschi's plans for this octagonal building.
Cloister and cenacolo (refectory)
The refectory keeps a Crucifixion by Orcagna and a rather damaged Last Supper. The Salvatore Romano Museum also presents a few sculptural elements, secular and religious. The two 16th-century cloisters, very bright, are by Alfonso Parigi and Bartolomeo Ammannati.
