The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella As an atheist, the following statement sounds strange, but, I really have a favorite church in Florence. It is the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. This church is often overlooked, but definitely worth a visit. Santa Maria Novella was built by, and to be the home of, the Dominican order of the Catholic Church, starting in 1246 and finishing in 1360. The designation “novella,” or new, comes from the fact that there was already a Santa Maria church on the site, that was torn down so this one could be built. This new church was built in the Renaissance-Gothic style, with a rounded bell tower at the center of the church. Its facade is decorated with white and green marble. My love of Santa Maria Novella goes back to my first visit to Florence, twenty-two years ago. The Amazing Ms. D and I stayed near this beautiful church because it was also near Florence’s main train station. In the evenings, the piazza in front of the church was a gat...