Orsanmichele
Walking along the now pedestrian street of Via del Calzaiulo that connects the city's two most important squares, those of the Signoria and the Duomo, you pass Orsanmichele, symbol of a third power—the guilds. Built in 1337 as a granary and shrine, Orsanmichele included niches on the façade to hold sculptures of the patron saints of the most important guilds. Most of these niches weren't filled until the Early Renaissance, when Florence found itself besieged by foreign armies. The resultant sculptures are full of the heroic spirit of that time: Donatello's St. George (original in the Bargello) faces danger calmly and, in a marble relief below the statue, bravely slays the dragon. Nanni de Banco's Four Crowned Saints quietly consider the decision that will lead to their martyrdom. The evolving Renaissance style can best be seen in Ghiberti's 1416 St. John the Baptist, the first life-size bronze of the Renaissance. Inside is an exceptionally large and wondrous Gothic tabernacle.
Address:
Via Arte della Lana 1
Florence
Italy
Telephone: +39 (55) 28-47-15