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Santa Croce, Florence The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).佛羅倫斯聖十字聖殿（義大利語：Basilica di Santa Croce）是方濟各會在義大利佛羅倫斯的主要教堂，羅馬天主教的一座次級聖殿，坐落在主教座堂東南方大約800米的聖十字廣場。這個地點原是城牆外的一片沼澤地。在這座教堂中，安葬著許多位最傑出的義大利人，例如米開朗琪羅、伽利略、馬基亞維利、烏戈·福斯科洛（Ugo Foscolo）、喬瓦尼·詹蒂萊（Giovanni Gentile）、羅西尼和馬可尼，因而被稱為「義大利的先賢祠」（義大利語：Tempio dell'Itale Glorie）。
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The ornately decorated front facade of the Basilica Santa Croce in Florence.
I've not used this high contrast mono post-production for many of my Florence shots, surprising as I think it suits them. Maybe I'll I'll have to revisit some of my uploaded shots to produce mono versions.......
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
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A view of the Basilica of Sante Croce from the clocktower of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The historic centre of Florence is so uniform in height that the Churches still really stand out as the dominant landmarks. The other thing that strikes me about this view is how abruptly Florence seems to end just beyond church.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
My Website : Twtter : Facebook
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
Florence (Italian: Firenze; Tuscan: Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (established in 1861). The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, Forbes has ranked it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008 the city had the 17th-highest average income in Italy.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio ("Old Palace") is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well as the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.
Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce,_Florence
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
Santa Croce, Florence The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).佛羅倫斯聖十字聖殿（義大利語：Basilica di Santa Croce）是方濟各會在義大利佛羅倫斯的主要教堂，羅馬天主教的一座次級聖殿，坐落在主教座堂東南方大約800米的聖十字廣場。這個地點原是城牆外的一片沼澤地。在這座教堂中，安葬著許多位最傑出的義大利人，例如米開朗琪羅、伽利略、馬基亞維利、烏戈·福斯科洛（Ugo Foscolo）、喬瓦尼·詹蒂萊（Giovanni Gentile）、羅西尼和馬可尼，因而被稱為「義大利的先賢祠」（義大利語：Tempio dell'Itale Glorie）。
Santa Croce, Florence The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).佛羅倫斯聖十字聖殿（義大利語：Basilica di Santa Croce）是方濟各會在義大利佛羅倫斯的主要教堂，羅馬天主教的一座次級聖殿，坐落在主教座堂東南方大約800米的聖十字廣場。這個地點原是城牆外的一片沼澤地。在這座教堂中，安葬著許多位最傑出的義大利人，例如米開朗琪羅、伽利略、馬基亞維利、烏戈·福斯科洛（Ugo Foscolo）、喬瓦尼·詹蒂萊（Giovanni Gentile）、羅西尼和馬可尼，因而被稱為「義大利的先賢祠」（義大利語：Tempio dell'Itale Glorie）。
Holy Supper and tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo (resurrected on site in 1737).
Giotto made the frescoes in two chapels to the right of the altar.
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One of the first football fields in the world.
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The two stars of David are Franciscan symbols on the temple facade.
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The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
"The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils,[a] and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain.
The Primo Chiostro, the main cloister, houses the Cappella dei Pazzi, built as the chapter house, completed in the 1470s. Filippo Brunelleschi (who had designed and executed the dome of the Duomo) was involved in its design which has remained rigorously simple and unadorned.
In 1560, the choir screen was removed as part of changes arising from the Counter-Reformation and the interior rebuilt by Giorgio Vasari. As a result, there was damage to the church's decoration and most of the altars previously located on the screen were lost. At the behest of Cosimo I, Vasari plastered over Giotto's frescoes and placed some new altars.
The bell tower was built in 1842, replacing an earlier one damaged by lightning. The neo-Gothic marble façade dates from 1857-1863. The Jewish architect Niccolo Matas from Ancona, designed the church's façade, working a prominent Star of David into the composition. Matas had wanted to be buried with his peers but because he was Jewish, he was buried under the threshold and honored with an inscription.
In 1866, the complex became public property, as a part of government suppression of most religious houses, following the wars that gained Italian independence and unity.
The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce is housed mainly in the refectory, also off the cloister. A monument to Florence Nightingale stands in the cloister, in the city in which she was born and after which she was named. Brunelleschi also built the inner cloister, completed in 1453.
In 1940, during the safe hiding of various works during World War II, Ugo Procacci noticed the Badia Polyptych being carried out of the church. He reasoned that this had been removed from the Badia Fiorentina during the Napoleonic occupation and accidentally re-installed in Santa Croce. Between 1958 and 1961, Leonetto Tintori removed layers of whitewash and overpaint from Giotto's Peruzzi Chapel scenes to reveal his original work.
In 1966, the Arno River flooded much of Florence, including Santa Croce. The water entered the church bringing mud, pollution and heating oil. The damage to buildings and art treasures was severe, taking several decades to repair.
Today the former dormitory of the Franciscan friars houses the Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School). Visitors can watch as artisans craft purses, wallets, and other leather goods which are sold in the adjacent shop.
Florence (/ˈflɔːrəns/ FLORR-ənss; Italian: Firenze [fiˈrɛntse]) is a city in central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered by many academics to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (established in 1861). The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, Forbes has ranked it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world by Global Language Monitor; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008 the city had the 17th-highest average income in Italy." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
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I think I prefer the B&W version of this Sante Croce shot but I thought some people might be interested to see the colour original.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
My Website : Twtter : Facebook
Santa Croce, Florence The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).佛羅倫斯聖十字聖殿（義大利語：Basilica di Santa Croce）是方濟各會在義大利佛羅倫斯的主要教堂，羅馬天主教的一座次級聖殿，坐落在主教座堂東南方大約800米的聖十字廣場。這個地點原是城牆外的一片沼澤地。在這座教堂中，安葬著許多位最傑出的義大利人，例如米開朗琪羅、伽利略、馬基亞維利、烏戈·福斯科洛（Ugo Foscolo）、喬瓦尼·詹蒂萊（Giovanni Gentile）、羅西尼和馬可尼，因而被稱為「義大利的先賢祠」（義大利語：Tempio dell'Itale Glorie）。
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) with its beautiful marble facade is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain. The most notable features of the basilica are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. It is the burial place of many illustrious Italians; thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain. The most notable features of the basilica are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. It is the burial place of many illustrious Italians; thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie). This photo shws the center and left way into the church. It was through the left door we entered the building.
Basilica Santa Croce, Florence: The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south west of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie). The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain. [source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Santa_Croce,_Florence ]
The ornately decorated front facade of the Basilica Santa Croce in Florence. I would normally have shot this from further back so that I could've corrected the perspective but on the day I visited there was an event going on in the square so that wasn't possible.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
My Website : Twtter : Facebook
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Italian for 'Basilica of the Holy Cross') is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
This is a fascinating part of Florence. Not just because of the church (built in 1294, with a neo-Gothic marble façade from 1857), but also the wonderful medieval buildings in the square.
The church contains some exceptional early Renaissance frescos, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini. 'The Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)'.
It was a baking hot day and I've tried to reflect this in the pp.
Florence
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo.
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floor plan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain. The neo-Gothic marble façade, as shown in the image, is by Nicolò Matas and dates from 1857-1863.
The Primo Chiostro, the main cloister, houses the Cappella dei Pazzi, built as the chapter house, completed in the 1470s. Filippo Brunelleschi (who had designed and executed the dome of the Duomo) was involved in its design which has remained rigorously simple and unadorned. In 1560, the choir screen was removed as part of changes arising from the Counter-Reformation and the interior rebuilt by Giorgio Vasari. As a result, there was damage to the church's decoration and most of the altars previously located on the screen were lost.
Santa Croce is also the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
Footnote to previous image:
Still didn’t manage to capture a people free shot... during the entire shoot, a street cleaning van slowly worked across the church jet washing the steps. You can see the van on the left and the faint orange ghost of the cleaner in his visi-vest.
Having seen the ornate facade of the Basilica di Sante Croce the rather plain interior comes as a surprise but this is quite typical of Italian churches from that period. From this shot you can see the memorials to the many famous Italians who are buried here.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
My Website : Twtter : Facebook
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world
Not the main church of the Basilica of Sante Croce, just a small chapel in the same complex, but impressive nonetheless.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
My Website : Twtter : Facebook
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
Florence (Italian: Firenze; Tuscan: Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (established in 1861). The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, Forbes has ranked it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008 the city had the 17th-highest average income in Italy.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce,_Florence
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
The main space of the Basilica di Sante Croce was relatively simple in it's decoration but the same could not be said about some of the side chapels.......
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
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The plain exterior of the Sante Croce Basilica is matched by an equally plain interior with a few cnotable exceptions as the photo below shows.......
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
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....is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
Florence (Italian: Firenze; Tuscan: Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (established in 1861). The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments. The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still exerts an influence in the fields of art, culture and politics. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, Forbes has ranked it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion, and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world; furthermore, it is a major national economic centre, as well as a tourist and industrial hub. In 2008 the city had the 17th-highest average income in Italy.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral
Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (English "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower"), is the cathedral of Florence, Italy (Italian: Duomo di Firenze). It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The cathedral complex, in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major tourist attraction of Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until the development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.
The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio ("Old Palace") is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well as the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.
Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. The Ponte Vecchio's two neighbouring bridges are the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte alle Grazie.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arno
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Santa_Trinita
The Ponte Santa Trìnita (Italian for Holy Trinity Bridge, named for the ancient church in the nearest stretch of via de' Tornabuoni) is a Renaissance bridge in Florence, Italy, spanning the Arno. The Ponte Santa Trìnita is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world, characterised by three flattened ellipses. The outside spans each measure 29 m (95 ft) with the centre span being 32 m (105 ft) in length. The two neighbouring bridges are the Ponte Vecchio, to the east, and the Ponte alla Carraia to the west.
The bridge was constructed by the Florentine architect Bartolomeo Ammannati from 1567 to 1569. Its site, downstream of the Ponte Vecchio, is a major link in the medieval street plan of Florence, which has been bridged at this site since the 13th century. The wooden bridge of 1252 was swept away in a flood seven years later and was rebuilt in stone; this structure was in turn destroyed by a flood in 1333. The bridge of five arches constructed by Taddeo Gaddi was also destroyed in the flood of 1557, which occasioned Ammannati's replacement. Four ornamental statues of the Seasons were added to the bridge in 1608, as part of the wedding celebrations of Cosimo II de' Medici with Maria Magdalena of Austria: Spring by Pietro Francavilla, Summer and Autumn by Giovanni Caccini, and Winter by Taddeo Landini.
On the night between 3 and 4 of August 1944, the bridge was destroyed by retreating German troops on the advance of the British 8th Army. A Bailey bridge was built for temporary use by the Royal engineers. The bridge was reconstructed in 1958 with original stones raised from the Arno or taken from the same quarry, under the direction of architect Riccardo Gizdulich and engineer Emilio Brizzi. The missing head of Primavera was recovered from the bed of the Arno in October 1961.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce,_Florence
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
The ornately decorated front facade of the Basilica Santa Croce in Florence.
From Wikipedia : "the Basilica of Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in the city, which is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo, and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)"
You can see more of my Florence shots here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/sets/72157650208172192
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The Basilica di Santa Croce (or Basilica of the Holy Cross in English) is a minor basilica and the principal Franciscan church of Florence. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 875 yards (800 meters) southeast of the Duomo, on what was once marshland beyond the city walls. Being the burial place of some of the most notable Italians, such as Dante, Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and the composer Rossini, it is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
The basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by Saint Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, began on May 12, 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 377 feet (115 meters) in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain.
In 1866, the complex became public property, as a part of government suppression of most religious houses, following the wars that gained Italian independence and unity.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce,_Florence
Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with roughly 361,000 inhabitants in 2023, and about 985,000 in its metropolitan area.
Florence was a center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered by many academics to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance, becoming a major artistic, cultural, commercial, political, economic and financial center. During this time, Florence rose to a position of enormous influence in the Italian Peninsula, Europe, and beyond. Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
The city attracts millions of tourists each year, and UNESCO declared the Historic Center of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments.
Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence
De toutes les églises de Rome, une seule est considérée comme étant la « mère et tête de toutes les églises » : la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran, cathédrale de Rome, siège du diocèse de la Ville.
Cette église fondamentale du Catholicisme est propriété du Saint-Siège et fait donc partie du Vatican (même si elle ne se trouve pas sur le territoire du Vatican). C’est une des quatre basiliques majeures de Rome, et ne l’est pas que par la taille : 12 conciles y eurent lieu, dont 5 œcuméniques tout au long du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 et de 1512 à 1516). C’est aussi au Latran que Charlemagne se fit baptiser, à Pâques en 774, ou que les fameux accords entre l’Eglise et l’Etat furent signés en 1929, les accords du Latran.
L’Archibasilique du Très Saint-Sauveur, plus connue sous le nom de Basilique de Saint-Jean de Latran, est l’église la plus ancienne de la ville, construite avant même Saint Pierre de Rome. L’empereur Constantin Ier (306-337) l’a fit construire, selon la légende, après avoir guéri d’une maladie en 313, et sera consacrée en 324 par le pape Sylvestre Ier. C’est l’église utilisée par le pape, lorsqu’il assume le rôle d’évêque de la Ville Éternelle. Elle est bâtie sur les anciens terrains d’une ancienne famille patricienne, les Laterani, qui donnèrent ainsi leur nom à l’église, Latran. Sainte Hélène, la mère de Constantin, chrétienne très fervente, avait fait cadeau des terrains au pape de l’époque, Melchiade.
Avant le renouveau de Saint-Pierre de Rome, à la Renaissance, le siège de la Chrétienté était au Latran. Pendant 1000 ans, du IVe au XIVe siècle, le pape y avait sa résidence, son siège, jusqu’à l’« exil » de Clément V à Avignon, en 1309. L’ancienne résidence papale est encore visible, le Palais de Latran, que l’on peut voir collé à la basilique, reconverti en musée par le pape Grégoire XVI. L’église avec tant de reconstructions, eu forcément des besoins financiers importants. Les rois de France contribuèrent au financement, depuis Louis XI au XVe siècle, de façon plus ou moins régulière suivant les aléas de l’Histoire, jusqu’en 1871. Henri IV, en échange de l’assurance des revenus provenant de l’Abbaye de Clairac pour le Latran, fut remercié avec une statue que l’on peut encore voir de nos jours, et le dirigeant français fut fait chanoine d’honneur. Aujourd’hui, le Président de la République, quel qu’il soit est ainsi systématiquement fait chanoine d’honneur de la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran.
L’église que nous pouvons admirer aujourd’hui date du XVIIe siècle, sous le pontificat d’Urbain V, et est la deuxième plus grande église de Rome, avec ses 130m de long. La façade blanche réalisée entre 1732 et 1735, toute en travertin, fut conçue par le Florentin Alessandro Galilei, avec les statues monumentales en son sommet. Ces statues de 7m de haut représentent Jésus, Saint Jean et Saint Jean-Baptiste, ainsi que les docteurs de l’église. La gigantesque porte de bronze est une porte antique, qui n’est autre que celle de l’ancienne Curie romaine ! Sur le fronton, nous pouvons y lire « omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput », mère et tête de toutes les églises de la ville et du monde.
La structure intérieure de la basilique est l’œuvre de Francesco Borromini, exécutée en style baroque. Les travaux débutèrent lors de l’année sainte, le Jubilé de 1650, commandés par le pape Innocent X. Des 14 arcades originelles, il passa à 5, retravaillant ainsi totalement l’espace intérieur de la basilique, qui retrouva l’esprit de l’édifice antique, avec ses 5 nefs. Dans chaque niche de la nef, longue de 130m, nous pouvons voir les statues des apôtres qui regardent les fidèles venus à l’église. Ces statues furent sculptées entre 1703 et 1719. Les chapelles latérales sont également issues du génie de Borromini. Le jeu de lumières que Borromini a su créer est bluffant, avec la lumière qui rentre par les fenêtres, tels des puits de lumière. Cette lumière si spéciale renforce le coté sacré de cet endroit. Borromini conservera le sol, venu du Moyen-âge, et le plafond, en caissons peints et moulures dorées, du bois sculpté du XVIe siècle.
Le sol de la basilique mérite toute l’attention du monde. C’est un sol que l’on nomme de « cosmatesque ». Ce type de sol, fait d’innombrables morceaux de marbre, était typique de l’Italie du Moyen-âge, friande de ce type de mosaïque. Le nom vient de Laurent Cosma et de sa famille, les Cosmati, des artisans qui créèrent bon nombre de ces œuvres, en prélevant le marbre des ruines romaines antiques. Ces sols sont absolument splendides, m’impressionnant beaucoup plus que toutes les statues de l’église : on n’a pas l’habitude de marcher sur quelque chose de si beau, et son omniprésence donne cet aspect chaleureux à Saint Jean de Latran, bien différent des sols en pierre des cathédrales gothiques.
Of all the churches in Rome, only one is considered the "mother and head of all churches": the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of Rome, seat of the diocese of the City.
This fundamental church of Catholicism is property of the Holy See and therefore part of the Vatican (even if it is not located on Vatican territory). It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and it is not only because of the size: 12 councils took place, including 5 ecumenical throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and from 1512 to 1516). It is also in the Lateran that Charlemagne was baptized, at Easter in 774, or that the famous agreements between the Church and the State were signed in 1929, the Lateran agreements.
The Archibasilica of the Most Holy Savior, better known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, is the oldest church in the city, built even before St. Peter of Rome. Emperor Constantine I (306-337) had it built, according to legend, after curing a disease in 313, and will be consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. This is the church used by the pope when he assumes the role of bishop of the Eternal City. It is built on the old grounds of an old patrician family, the Laterani, which gave their name to the church, Lateran. St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, a very fervent Christian, had given the land to the pope of the time, Melchiade.
Before the revival of St. Peter's in Rome, during the Renaissance, the siege of Christendom was at the Lateran. For 1000 years, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, the pope had his residence, his seat, until the "exile" of Clement V in Avignon, in 1309. The former papal residence is still visible, the Lateran Palace , which can be seen stuck to the basilica, converted into a museum by Pope Gregory XVI. The church with so many reconstructions, had necessarily important financial needs. The kings of France contributed to the financing, since Louis XI in the 15th century, in a more or less regular way according to the vagaries of the History, until 1871. Henry IV, in exchange for the insurance of the revenues coming from the Abbey from Clairac to the Lateran, was thanked with a statue that can still be seen today, and the French leader was made canon of honor. Today, the President of the Republic, whoever he is is thus systematically made canon of honor of the basilica Saint-Jean of Lateran.
The church that we can admire today dates from the seventeenth century, under the pontificate of Urban V, and is the second largest church in Rome, with its 130m long. The white facade built between 1732 and 1735, all travertine, was designed by the Florentine Alessandro Galilei, with the monumental statues at the top. These statues 7m high represent Jesus, Saint John and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the doctors of the church. The gigantic bronze door is an ancient door, which is none other than that of the ancient Roman Curia! On the pediment, we can read "omnium urbis and orbis ecclesiarum mater and caput", mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.
The inner structure of the basilica is the work of Francesco Borromini, executed in Baroque style. Work began during the holy year, the Jubilee of 1650, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Of the 14 original arcades, he went to 5, thus completely reworking the interior space of the basilica, which found the spirit of the ancient building, with its 5 naves. In each niche of the nave, 130m long, we can see the statues of the apostles who watch the faithful coming to the church. These statues were carved between 1703 and 1719. The side chapels are also from the genius of Borromini. The play of lights that Borromini has created is stunning, with the light coming in through the windows, like skylights. This special light reinforces the sacred side of this place. Borromini will preserve the soil, from the Middle Ages, and the ceiling, in painted boxes and gilded moldings, carved wood of the sixteenth century.
The basilica floor deserves all the attention of the world. It is a soil that we call "cosmatesque". This type of floor, made of innumerable pieces of marble, was typical of medieval Italy, fond of this type of mosaic. The name comes from Laurent Cosma and his family, the Cosmati, craftsmen who created many of these works, taking marble from the ancient Roman ruins. These soils are absolutely splendid, impressing me much more than all the statues of the church: we are not used to walking on something so beautiful, and its omnipresence gives this warm aspect to Saint Jean de Latran, very different from the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals.
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 meters south-east of the Duomo.
It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)
De toutes les églises de Rome, une seule est considérée comme étant la « mère et tête de toutes les églises » : la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran, cathédrale de Rome, siège du diocèse de la Ville.
Cette église fondamentale du Catholicisme est propriété du Saint-Siège et fait donc partie du Vatican (même si elle ne se trouve pas sur le territoire du Vatican). C’est une des quatre basiliques majeures de Rome, et ne l’est pas que par la taille : 12 conciles y eurent lieu, dont 5 œcuméniques tout au long du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 et de 1512 à 1516). C’est aussi au Latran que Charlemagne se fit baptiser, à Pâques en 774, ou que les fameux accords entre l’Eglise et l’Etat furent signés en 1929, les accords du Latran.
L’Archibasilique du Très Saint-Sauveur, plus connue sous le nom de Basilique de Saint-Jean de Latran, est l’église la plus ancienne de la ville, construite avant même Saint Pierre de Rome. L’empereur Constantin Ier (306-337) l’a fit construire, selon la légende, après avoir guéri d’une maladie en 313, et sera consacrée en 324 par le pape Sylvestre Ier. C’est l’église utilisée par le pape, lorsqu’il assume le rôle d’évêque de la Ville Éternelle. Elle est bâtie sur les anciens terrains d’une ancienne famille patricienne, les Laterani, qui donnèrent ainsi leur nom à l’église, Latran. Sainte Hélène, la mère de Constantin, chrétienne très fervente, avait fait cadeau des terrains au pape de l’époque, Melchiade.
Avant le renouveau de Saint-Pierre de Rome, à la Renaissance, le siège de la Chrétienté était au Latran. Pendant 1000 ans, du IVe au XIVe siècle, le pape y avait sa résidence, son siège, jusqu’à l’« exil » de Clément V à Avignon, en 1309. L’ancienne résidence papale est encore visible, le Palais de Latran, que l’on peut voir collé à la basilique, reconverti en musée par le pape Grégoire XVI. L’église avec tant de reconstructions, eu forcément des besoins financiers importants. Les rois de France contribuèrent au financement, depuis Louis XI au XVe siècle, de façon plus ou moins régulière suivant les aléas de l’Histoire, jusqu’en 1871. Henri IV, en échange de l’assurance des revenus provenant de l’Abbaye de Clairac pour le Latran, fut remercié avec une statue que l’on peut encore voir de nos jours, et le dirigeant français fut fait chanoine d’honneur. Aujourd’hui, le Président de la République, quel qu’il soit est ainsi systématiquement fait chanoine d’honneur de la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran.
L’église que nous pouvons admirer aujourd’hui date du XVIIe siècle, sous le pontificat d’Urbain V, et est la deuxième plus grande église de Rome, avec ses 130m de long. La façade blanche réalisée entre 1732 et 1735, toute en travertin, fut conçue par le Florentin Alessandro Galilei, avec les statues monumentales en son sommet. Ces statues de 7m de haut représentent Jésus, Saint Jean et Saint Jean-Baptiste, ainsi que les docteurs de l’église. La gigantesque porte de bronze est une porte antique, qui n’est autre que celle de l’ancienne Curie romaine ! Sur le fronton, nous pouvons y lire « omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput », mère et tête de toutes les églises de la ville et du monde.
La structure intérieure de la basilique est l’œuvre de Francesco Borromini, exécutée en style baroque. Les travaux débutèrent lors de l’année sainte, le Jubilé de 1650, commandés par le pape Innocent X. Des 14 arcades originelles, il passa à 5, retravaillant ainsi totalement l’espace intérieur de la basilique, qui retrouva l’esprit de l’édifice antique, avec ses 5 nefs. Dans chaque niche de la nef, longue de 130m, nous pouvons voir les statues des apôtres qui regardent les fidèles venus à l’église. Ces statues furent sculptées entre 1703 et 1719. Les chapelles latérales sont également issues du génie de Borromini. Le jeu de lumières que Borromini a su créer est bluffant, avec la lumière qui rentre par les fenêtres, tels des puits de lumière. Cette lumière si spéciale renforce le coté sacré de cet endroit. Borromini conservera le sol, venu du Moyen-âge, et le plafond, en caissons peints et moulures dorées, du bois sculpté du XVIe siècle.
Le sol de la basilique mérite toute l’attention du monde. C’est un sol que l’on nomme de « cosmatesque ». Ce type de sol, fait d’innombrables morceaux de marbre, était typique de l’Italie du Moyen-âge, friande de ce type de mosaïque. Le nom vient de Laurent Cosma et de sa famille, les Cosmati, des artisans qui créèrent bon nombre de ces œuvres, en prélevant le marbre des ruines romaines antiques. Ces sols sont absolument splendides, m’impressionnant beaucoup plus que toutes les statues de l’église : on n’a pas l’habitude de marcher sur quelque chose de si beau, et son omniprésence donne cet aspect chaleureux à Saint Jean de Latran, bien différent des sols en pierre des cathédrales gothiques.
Of all the churches in Rome, only one is considered the "mother and head of all churches": the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of Rome, seat of the diocese of the City.
This fundamental church of Catholicism is property of the Holy See and therefore part of the Vatican (even if it is not located on Vatican territory). It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and it is not only because of the size: 12 councils took place, including 5 ecumenical throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and from 1512 to 1516). It is also in the Lateran that Charlemagne was baptized, at Easter in 774, or that the famous agreements between the Church and the State were signed in 1929, the Lateran agreements.
The Archibasilica of the Most Holy Savior, better known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, is the oldest church in the city, built even before St. Peter of Rome. Emperor Constantine I (306-337) had it built, according to legend, after curing a disease in 313, and will be consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. This is the church used by the pope when he assumes the role of bishop of the Eternal City. It is built on the old grounds of an old patrician family, the Laterani, which gave their name to the church, Lateran. St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, a very fervent Christian, had given the land to the pope of the time, Melchiade.
Before the revival of St. Peter's in Rome, during the Renaissance, the siege of Christendom was at the Lateran. For 1000 years, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, the pope had his residence, his seat, until the "exile" of Clement V in Avignon, in 1309. The former papal residence is still visible, the Lateran Palace , which can be seen stuck to the basilica, converted into a museum by Pope Gregory XVI. The church with so many reconstructions, had necessarily important financial needs. The kings of France contributed to the financing, since Louis XI in the 15th century, in a more or less regular way according to the vagaries of the History, until 1871. Henry IV, in exchange for the insurance of the revenues coming from the Abbey from Clairac to the Lateran, was thanked with a statue that can still be seen today, and the French leader was made canon of honor. Today, the President of the Republic, whoever he is is thus systematically made canon of honor of the basilica Saint-Jean of Lateran.
The church that we can admire today dates from the seventeenth century, under the pontificate of Urban V, and is the second largest church in Rome, with its 130m long. The white facade built between 1732 and 1735, all travertine, was designed by the Florentine Alessandro Galilei, with the monumental statues at the top. These statues 7m high represent Jesus, Saint John and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the doctors of the church. The gigantic bronze door is an ancient door, which is none other than that of the ancient Roman Curia! On the pediment, we can read "omnium urbis and orbis ecclesiarum mater and caput", mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.
The inner structure of the basilica is the work of Francesco Borromini, executed in Baroque style. Work began during the holy year, the Jubilee of 1650, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Of the 14 original arcades, he went to 5, thus completely reworking the interior space of the basilica, which found the spirit of the ancient building, with its 5 naves. In each niche of the nave, 130m long, we can see the statues of the apostles who watch the faithful coming to the church. These statues were carved between 1703 and 1719. The side chapels are also from the genius of Borromini. The play of lights that Borromini has created is stunning, with the light coming in through the windows, like skylights. This special light reinforces the sacred side of this place. Borromini will preserve the soil, from the Middle Ages, and the ceiling, in painted boxes and gilded moldings, carved wood of the sixteenth century.
The basilica floor deserves all the attention of the world. It is a soil that we call "cosmatesque". This type of floor, made of innumerable pieces of marble, was typical of medieval Italy, fond of this type of mosaic. The name comes from Laurent Cosma and his family, the Cosmati, craftsmen who created many of these works, taking marble from the ancient Roman ruins. These soils are absolutely splendid, impressing me much more than all the statues of the church: we are not used to walking on something so beautiful, and its omnipresence gives this warm aspect to Saint Jean de Latran, very different from the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals.
Florenz - Santa Croce
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Italian for 'Basilica of the Holy Cross') is a minor basilica and the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres southeast of the Duomo, on what was once marshland beyond the city walls. Being the burial place of some of the most notable Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini, it is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie).
(Wikipedia)
Santa Croce ist eine Franziskanerkirche in Florenz.
Die Grundsteinlegung von Santa Croce soll einer Legende zufolge von dem hl. Franz von Assisi selbst vorgenommen worden sein.
Santa Croce wird auch als „Pantheon von Florenz“ bezeichnet. Dies liegt allerdings nicht an ihrer Architektur, sondern daran, dass sich hier die Grabmäler von Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei und Gioachino Rossini sowie Gedenkstätten für viele andere berühmte Italiener wie zum Beispiel Guglielmo Marconi befinden. Im Übrigen ist die Kirche in ihrer Anlage zwar von der klassischen Einfachheit franziskanischer Kirchenbauten geprägt, die hier allerdings ins Monumentale gesteigert ist, und mit Fresken von Giotto, Taddeo Gaddi und anderen Meistern ausgestattet.
(Wikipedia)
The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south-east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls.
It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie)
De toutes les églises de Rome, une seule est considérée comme étant la « mère et tête de toutes les églises » : la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran, cathédrale de Rome, siège du diocèse de la Ville.
Cette église fondamentale du Catholicisme est propriété du Saint-Siège et fait donc partie du Vatican (même si elle ne se trouve pas sur le territoire du Vatican). C’est une des quatre basiliques majeures de Rome, et ne l’est pas que par la taille : 12 conciles y eurent lieu, dont 5 œcuméniques tout au long du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 et de 1512 à 1516). C’est aussi au Latran que Charlemagne se fit baptiser, à Pâques en 774, ou que les fameux accords entre l’Eglise et l’Etat furent signés en 1929, les accords du Latran.
L’Archibasilique du Très Saint-Sauveur, plus connue sous le nom de Basilique de Saint-Jean de Latran, est l’église la plus ancienne de la ville, construite avant même Saint Pierre de Rome. L’empereur Constantin Ier (306-337) l’a fit construire, selon la légende, après avoir guéri d’une maladie en 313, et sera consacrée en 324 par le pape Sylvestre Ier. C’est l’église utilisée par le pape, lorsqu’il assume le rôle d’évêque de la Ville Éternelle. Elle est bâtie sur les anciens terrains d’une ancienne famille patricienne, les Laterani, qui donnèrent ainsi leur nom à l’église, Latran. Sainte Hélène, la mère de Constantin, chrétienne très fervente, avait fait cadeau des terrains au pape de l’époque, Melchiade.
Avant le renouveau de Saint-Pierre de Rome, à la Renaissance, le siège de la Chrétienté était au Latran. Pendant 1000 ans, du IVe au XIVe siècle, le pape y avait sa résidence, son siège, jusqu’à l’« exil » de Clément V à Avignon, en 1309. L’ancienne résidence papale est encore visible, le Palais de Latran, que l’on peut voir collé à la basilique, reconverti en musée par le pape Grégoire XVI. L’église avec tant de reconstructions, eu forcément des besoins financiers importants. Les rois de France contribuèrent au financement, depuis Louis XI au XVe siècle, de façon plus ou moins régulière suivant les aléas de l’Histoire, jusqu’en 1871. Henri IV, en échange de l’assurance des revenus provenant de l’Abbaye de Clairac pour le Latran, fut remercié avec une statue que l’on peut encore voir de nos jours, et le dirigeant français fut fait chanoine d’honneur. Aujourd’hui, le Président de la République, quel qu’il soit est ainsi systématiquement fait chanoine d’honneur de la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran.
L’église que nous pouvons admirer aujourd’hui date du XVIIe siècle, sous le pontificat d’Urbain V, et est la deuxième plus grande église de Rome, avec ses 130m de long. La façade blanche réalisée entre 1732 et 1735, toute en travertin, fut conçue par le Florentin Alessandro Galilei, avec les statues monumentales en son sommet. Ces statues de 7m de haut représentent Jésus, Saint Jean et Saint Jean-Baptiste, ainsi que les docteurs de l’église. La gigantesque porte de bronze est une porte antique, qui n’est autre que celle de l’ancienne Curie romaine ! Sur le fronton, nous pouvons y lire « omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput », mère et tête de toutes les églises de la ville et du monde.
La structure intérieure de la basilique est l’œuvre de Francesco Borromini, exécutée en style baroque. Les travaux débutèrent lors de l’année sainte, le Jubilé de 1650, commandés par le pape Innocent X. Des 14 arcades originelles, il passa à 5, retravaillant ainsi totalement l’espace intérieur de la basilique, qui retrouva l’esprit de l’édifice antique, avec ses 5 nefs. Dans chaque niche de la nef, longue de 130m, nous pouvons voir les statues des apôtres qui regardent les fidèles venus à l’église. Ces statues furent sculptées entre 1703 et 1719. Les chapelles latérales sont également issues du génie de Borromini. Le jeu de lumières que Borromini a su créer est bluffant, avec la lumière qui rentre par les fenêtres, tels des puits de lumière. Cette lumière si spéciale renforce le coté sacré de cet endroit. Borromini conservera le sol, venu du Moyen-âge, et le plafond, en caissons peints et moulures dorées, du bois sculpté du XVIe siècle.
Le sol de la basilique mérite toute l’attention du monde. C’est un sol que l’on nomme de « cosmatesque ». Ce type de sol, fait d’innombrables morceaux de marbre, était typique de l’Italie du Moyen-âge, friande de ce type de mosaïque. Le nom vient de Laurent Cosma et de sa famille, les Cosmati, des artisans qui créèrent bon nombre de ces œuvres, en prélevant le marbre des ruines romaines antiques. Ces sols sont absolument splendides, m’impressionnant beaucoup plus que toutes les statues de l’église : on n’a pas l’habitude de marcher sur quelque chose de si beau, et son omniprésence donne cet aspect chaleureux à Saint Jean de Latran, bien différent des sols en pierre des cathédrales gothiques.
Of all the churches in Rome, only one is considered the "mother and head of all churches": the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of Rome, seat of the diocese of the City.
This fundamental church of Catholicism is property of the Holy See and therefore part of the Vatican (even if it is not located on Vatican territory). It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and it is not only because of the size: 12 councils took place, including 5 ecumenical throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and from 1512 to 1516). It is also in the Lateran that Charlemagne was baptized, at Easter in 774, or that the famous agreements between the Church and the State were signed in 1929, the Lateran agreements.
The Archibasilica of the Most Holy Savior, better known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, is the oldest church in the city, built even before St. Peter of Rome. Emperor Constantine I (306-337) had it built, according to legend, after curing a disease in 313, and will be consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. This is the church used by the pope when he assumes the role of bishop of the Eternal City. It is built on the old grounds of an old patrician family, the Laterani, which gave their name to the church, Lateran. St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, a very fervent Christian, had given the land to the pope of the time, Melchiade.
Before the revival of St. Peter's in Rome, during the Renaissance, the siege of Christendom was at the Lateran. For 1000 years, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, the pope had his residence, his seat, until the "exile" of Clement V in Avignon, in 1309. The former papal residence is still visible, the Lateran Palace , which can be seen stuck to the basilica, converted into a museum by Pope Gregory XVI. The church with so many reconstructions, had necessarily important financial needs. The kings of France contributed to the financing, since Louis XI in the 15th century, in a more or less regular way according to the vagaries of the History, until 1871. Henry IV, in exchange for the insurance of the revenues coming from the Abbey from Clairac to the Lateran, was thanked with a statue that can still be seen today, and the French leader was made canon of honor. Today, the President of the Republic, whoever he is is thus systematically made canon of honor of the basilica Saint-Jean of Lateran.
The church that we can admire today dates from the seventeenth century, under the pontificate of Urban V, and is the second largest church in Rome, with its 130m long. The white facade built between 1732 and 1735, all travertine, was designed by the Florentine Alessandro Galilei, with the monumental statues at the top. These statues 7m high represent Jesus, Saint John and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the doctors of the church. The gigantic bronze door is an ancient door, which is none other than that of the ancient Roman Curia! On the pediment, we can read "omnium urbis and orbis ecclesiarum mater and caput", mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.
The inner structure of the basilica is the work of Francesco Borromini, executed in Baroque style. Work began during the holy year, the Jubilee of 1650, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Of the 14 original arcades, he went to 5, thus completely reworking the interior space of the basilica, which found the spirit of the ancient building, with its 5 naves. In each niche of the nave, 130m long, we can see the statues of the apostles who watch the faithful coming to the church. These statues were carved between 1703 and 1719. The side chapels are also from the genius of Borromini. The play of lights that Borromini has created is stunning, with the light coming in through the windows, like skylights. This special light reinforces the sacred side of this place. Borromini will preserve the soil, from the Middle Ages, and the ceiling, in painted boxes and gilded moldings, carved wood of the sixteenth century.
The basilica floor deserves all the attention of the world. It is a soil that we call "cosmatesque". This type of floor, made of innumerable pieces of marble, was typical of medieval Italy, fond of this type of mosaic. The name comes from Laurent Cosma and his family, the Cosmati, craftsmen who created many of these works, taking marble from the ancient Roman ruins. These soils are absolutely splendid, impressing me much more than all the statues of the church: we are not used to walking on something so beautiful, and its omnipresence gives this warm aspect to Saint Jean de Latran, very different from the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals.
De toutes les églises de Rome, une seule est considérée comme étant la « mère et tête de toutes les églises » : la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran, cathédrale de Rome, siège du diocèse de la Ville.
Cette église fondamentale du Catholicisme est propriété du Saint-Siège et fait donc partie du Vatican (même si elle ne se trouve pas sur le territoire du Vatican). C’est une des quatre basiliques majeures de Rome, et ne l’est pas que par la taille : 12 conciles y eurent lieu, dont 5 œcuméniques tout au long du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 et de 1512 à 1516). C’est aussi au Latran que Charlemagne se fit baptiser, à Pâques en 774, ou que les fameux accords entre l’Eglise et l’Etat furent signés en 1929, les accords du Latran.
L’Archibasilique du Très Saint-Sauveur, plus connue sous le nom de Basilique de Saint-Jean de Latran, est l’église la plus ancienne de la ville, construite avant même Saint Pierre de Rome. L’empereur Constantin Ier (306-337) l’a fit construire, selon la légende, après avoir guéri d’une maladie en 313, et sera consacrée en 324 par le pape Sylvestre Ier. C’est l’église utilisée par le pape, lorsqu’il assume le rôle d’évêque de la Ville Éternelle. Elle est bâtie sur les anciens terrains d’une ancienne famille patricienne, les Laterani, qui donnèrent ainsi leur nom à l’église, Latran. Sainte Hélène, la mère de Constantin, chrétienne très fervente, avait fait cadeau des terrains au pape de l’époque, Melchiade.
Avant le renouveau de Saint-Pierre de Rome, à la Renaissance, le siège de la Chrétienté était au Latran. Pendant 1000 ans, du IVe au XIVe siècle, le pape y avait sa résidence, son siège, jusqu’à l’« exil » de Clément V à Avignon, en 1309. L’ancienne résidence papale est encore visible, le Palais de Latran, que l’on peut voir collé à la basilique, reconverti en musée par le pape Grégoire XVI. L’église avec tant de reconstructions, eu forcément des besoins financiers importants. Les rois de France contribuèrent au financement, depuis Louis XI au XVe siècle, de façon plus ou moins régulière suivant les aléas de l’Histoire, jusqu’en 1871. Henri IV, en échange de l’assurance des revenus provenant de l’Abbaye de Clairac pour le Latran, fut remercié avec une statue que l’on peut encore voir de nos jours, et le dirigeant français fut fait chanoine d’honneur. Aujourd’hui, le Président de la République, quel qu’il soit est ainsi systématiquement fait chanoine d’honneur de la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran.
L’église que nous pouvons admirer aujourd’hui date du XVIIe siècle, sous le pontificat d’Urbain V, et est la deuxième plus grande église de Rome, avec ses 130m de long. La façade blanche réalisée entre 1732 et 1735, toute en travertin, fut conçue par le Florentin Alessandro Galilei, avec les statues monumentales en son sommet. Ces statues de 7m de haut représentent Jésus, Saint Jean et Saint Jean-Baptiste, ainsi que les docteurs de l’église. La gigantesque porte de bronze est une porte antique, qui n’est autre que celle de l’ancienne Curie romaine ! Sur le fronton, nous pouvons y lire « omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput », mère et tête de toutes les églises de la ville et du monde.
La structure intérieure de la basilique est l’œuvre de Francesco Borromini, exécutée en style baroque. Les travaux débutèrent lors de l’année sainte, le Jubilé de 1650, commandés par le pape Innocent X. Des 14 arcades originelles, il passa à 5, retravaillant ainsi totalement l’espace intérieur de la basilique, qui retrouva l’esprit de l’édifice antique, avec ses 5 nefs. Dans chaque niche de la nef, longue de 130m, nous pouvons voir les statues des apôtres qui regardent les fidèles venus à l’église. Ces statues furent sculptées entre 1703 et 1719. Les chapelles latérales sont également issues du génie de Borromini. Le jeu de lumières que Borromini a su créer est bluffant, avec la lumière qui rentre par les fenêtres, tels des puits de lumière. Cette lumière si spéciale renforce le coté sacré de cet endroit. Borromini conservera le sol, venu du Moyen-âge, et le plafond, en caissons peints et moulures dorées, du bois sculpté du XVIe siècle.
Le sol de la basilique mérite toute l’attention du monde. C’est un sol que l’on nomme de « cosmatesque ». Ce type de sol, fait d’innombrables morceaux de marbre, était typique de l’Italie du Moyen-âge, friande de ce type de mosaïque. Le nom vient de Laurent Cosma et de sa famille, les Cosmati, des artisans qui créèrent bon nombre de ces œuvres, en prélevant le marbre des ruines romaines antiques. Ces sols sont absolument splendides, m’impressionnant beaucoup plus que toutes les statues de l’église : on n’a pas l’habitude de marcher sur quelque chose de si beau, et son omniprésence donne cet aspect chaleureux à Saint Jean de Latran, bien différent des sols en pierre des cathédrales gothiques.
Of all the churches in Rome, only one is considered the "mother and head of all churches": the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of Rome, seat of the diocese of the City.
This fundamental church of Catholicism is property of the Holy See and therefore part of the Vatican (even if it is not located on Vatican territory). It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and it is not only because of the size: 12 councils took place, including 5 ecumenical throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and from 1512 to 1516). It is also in the Lateran that Charlemagne was baptized, at Easter in 774, or that the famous agreements between the Church and the State were signed in 1929, the Lateran agreements.
The Archibasilica of the Most Holy Savior, better known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, is the oldest church in the city, built even before St. Peter of Rome. Emperor Constantine I (306-337) had it built, according to legend, after curing a disease in 313, and will be consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. This is the church used by the pope when he assumes the role of bishop of the Eternal City. It is built on the old grounds of an old patrician family, the Laterani, which gave their name to the church, Lateran. St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, a very fervent Christian, had given the land to the pope of the time, Melchiade.
Before the revival of St. Peter's in Rome, during the Renaissance, the siege of Christendom was at the Lateran. For 1000 years, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, the pope had his residence, his seat, until the "exile" of Clement V in Avignon, in 1309. The former papal residence is still visible, the Lateran Palace , which can be seen stuck to the basilica, converted into a museum by Pope Gregory XVI. The church with so many reconstructions, had necessarily important financial needs. The kings of France contributed to the financing, since Louis XI in the 15th century, in a more or less regular way according to the vagaries of the History, until 1871. Henry IV, in exchange for the insurance of the revenues coming from the Abbey from Clairac to the Lateran, was thanked with a statue that can still be seen today, and the French leader was made canon of honor. Today, the President of the Republic, whoever he is is thus systematically made canon of honor of the basilica Saint-Jean of Lateran.
The church that we can admire today dates from the seventeenth century, under the pontificate of Urban V, and is the second largest church in Rome, with its 130m long. The white facade built between 1732 and 1735, all travertine, was designed by the Florentine Alessandro Galilei, with the monumental statues at the top. These statues 7m high represent Jesus, Saint John and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the doctors of the church. The gigantic bronze door is an ancient door, which is none other than that of the ancient Roman Curia! On the pediment, we can read "omnium urbis and orbis ecclesiarum mater and caput", mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.
The inner structure of the basilica is the work of Francesco Borromini, executed in Baroque style. Work began during the holy year, the Jubilee of 1650, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Of the 14 original arcades, he went to 5, thus completely reworking the interior space of the basilica, which found the spirit of the ancient building, with its 5 naves. In each niche of the nave, 130m long, we can see the statues of the apostles who watch the faithful coming to the church. These statues were carved between 1703 and 1719. The side chapels are also from the genius of Borromini. The play of lights that Borromini has created is stunning, with the light coming in through the windows, like skylights. This special light reinforces the sacred side of this place. Borromini will preserve the soil, from the Middle Ages, and the ceiling, in painted boxes and gilded moldings, carved wood of the sixteenth century.
The basilica floor deserves all the attention of the world. It is a soil that we call "cosmatesque". This type of floor, made of innumerable pieces of marble, was typical of medieval Italy, fond of this type of mosaic. The name comes from Laurent Cosma and his family, the Cosmati, craftsmen who created many of these works, taking marble from the ancient Roman ruins. These soils are absolutely splendid, impressing me much more than all the statues of the church: we are not used to walking on something so beautiful, and its omnipresence gives this warm aspect to Saint Jean de Latran, very different from the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals.
De toutes les églises de Rome, une seule est considérée comme étant la « mère et tête de toutes les églises » : la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran, cathédrale de Rome, siège du diocèse de la Ville.
Cette église fondamentale du Catholicisme est propriété du Saint-Siège et fait donc partie du Vatican (même si elle ne se trouve pas sur le territoire du Vatican). C’est une des quatre basiliques majeures de Rome, et ne l’est pas que par la taille : 12 conciles y eurent lieu, dont 5 œcuméniques tout au long du Moyen-âge et de la Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 et de 1512 à 1516). C’est aussi au Latran que Charlemagne se fit baptiser, à Pâques en 774, ou que les fameux accords entre l’Eglise et l’Etat furent signés en 1929, les accords du Latran.
L’Archibasilique du Très Saint-Sauveur, plus connue sous le nom de Basilique de Saint-Jean de Latran, est l’église la plus ancienne de la ville, construite avant même Saint Pierre de Rome. L’empereur Constantin Ier (306-337) l’a fit construire, selon la légende, après avoir guéri d’une maladie en 313, et sera consacrée en 324 par le pape Sylvestre Ier. C’est l’église utilisée par le pape, lorsqu’il assume le rôle d’évêque de la Ville Éternelle. Elle est bâtie sur les anciens terrains d’une ancienne famille patricienne, les Laterani, qui donnèrent ainsi leur nom à l’église, Latran. Sainte Hélène, la mère de Constantin, chrétienne très fervente, avait fait cadeau des terrains au pape de l’époque, Melchiade.
Avant le renouveau de Saint-Pierre de Rome, à la Renaissance, le siège de la Chrétienté était au Latran. Pendant 1000 ans, du IVe au XIVe siècle, le pape y avait sa résidence, son siège, jusqu’à l’« exil » de Clément V à Avignon, en 1309. L’ancienne résidence papale est encore visible, le Palais de Latran, que l’on peut voir collé à la basilique, reconverti en musée par le pape Grégoire XVI. L’église avec tant de reconstructions, eu forcément des besoins financiers importants. Les rois de France contribuèrent au financement, depuis Louis XI au XVe siècle, de façon plus ou moins régulière suivant les aléas de l’Histoire, jusqu’en 1871. Henri IV, en échange de l’assurance des revenus provenant de l’Abbaye de Clairac pour le Latran, fut remercié avec une statue que l’on peut encore voir de nos jours, et le dirigeant français fut fait chanoine d’honneur. Aujourd’hui, le Président de la République, quel qu’il soit est ainsi systématiquement fait chanoine d’honneur de la basilique Saint-Jean de Latran.
L’église que nous pouvons admirer aujourd’hui date du XVIIe siècle, sous le pontificat d’Urbain V, et est la deuxième plus grande église de Rome, avec ses 130m de long. La façade blanche réalisée entre 1732 et 1735, toute en travertin, fut conçue par le Florentin Alessandro Galilei, avec les statues monumentales en son sommet. Ces statues de 7m de haut représentent Jésus, Saint Jean et Saint Jean-Baptiste, ainsi que les docteurs de l’église. La gigantesque porte de bronze est une porte antique, qui n’est autre que celle de l’ancienne Curie romaine ! Sur le fronton, nous pouvons y lire « omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput », mère et tête de toutes les églises de la ville et du monde.
La structure intérieure de la basilique est l’œuvre de Francesco Borromini, exécutée en style baroque. Les travaux débutèrent lors de l’année sainte, le Jubilé de 1650, commandés par le pape Innocent X. Des 14 arcades originelles, il passa à 5, retravaillant ainsi totalement l’espace intérieur de la basilique, qui retrouva l’esprit de l’édifice antique, avec ses 5 nefs. Dans chaque niche de la nef, longue de 130m, nous pouvons voir les statues des apôtres qui regardent les fidèles venus à l’église. Ces statues furent sculptées entre 1703 et 1719. Les chapelles latérales sont également issues du génie de Borromini. Le jeu de lumières que Borromini a su créer est bluffant, avec la lumière qui rentre par les fenêtres, tels des puits de lumière. Cette lumière si spéciale renforce le coté sacré de cet endroit. Borromini conservera le sol, venu du Moyen-âge, et le plafond, en caissons peints et moulures dorées, du bois sculpté du XVIe siècle.
Le sol de la basilique mérite toute l’attention du monde. C’est un sol que l’on nomme de « cosmatesque ». Ce type de sol, fait d’innombrables morceaux de marbre, était typique de l’Italie du Moyen-âge, friande de ce type de mosaïque. Le nom vient de Laurent Cosma et de sa famille, les Cosmati, des artisans qui créèrent bon nombre de ces œuvres, en prélevant le marbre des ruines romaines antiques. Ces sols sont absolument splendides, m’impressionnant beaucoup plus que toutes les statues de l’église : on n’a pas l’habitude de marcher sur quelque chose de si beau, et son omniprésence donne cet aspect chaleureux à Saint Jean de Latran, bien différent des sols en pierre des cathédrales gothiques.
Of all the churches in Rome, only one is considered the "mother and head of all churches": the Basilica of St. John Lateran, cathedral of Rome, seat of the diocese of the City.
This fundamental church of Catholicism is property of the Holy See and therefore part of the Vatican (even if it is not located on Vatican territory). It is one of the four major basilicas of Rome, and it is not only because of the size: 12 councils took place, including 5 ecumenical throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and from 1512 to 1516). It is also in the Lateran that Charlemagne was baptized, at Easter in 774, or that the famous agreements between the Church and the State were signed in 1929, the Lateran agreements.
The Archibasilica of the Most Holy Savior, better known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, is the oldest church in the city, built even before St. Peter of Rome. Emperor Constantine I (306-337) had it built, according to legend, after curing a disease in 313, and will be consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I. This is the church used by the pope when he assumes the role of bishop of the Eternal City. It is built on the old grounds of an old patrician family, the Laterani, which gave their name to the church, Lateran. St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, a very fervent Christian, had given the land to the pope of the time, Melchiade.
Before the revival of St. Peter's in Rome, during the Renaissance, the siege of Christendom was at the Lateran. For 1000 years, from the fourth to the fourteenth century, the pope had his residence, his seat, until the "exile" of Clement V in Avignon, in 1309. The former papal residence is still visible, the Lateran Palace , which can be seen stuck to the basilica, converted into a museum by Pope Gregory XVI. The church with so many reconstructions, had necessarily important financial needs. The kings of France contributed to the financing, since Louis XI in the 15th century, in a more or less regular way according to the vagaries of the History, until 1871. Henry IV, in exchange for the insurance of the revenues coming from the Abbey from Clairac to the Lateran, was thanked with a statue that can still be seen today, and the French leader was made canon of honor. Today, the President of the Republic, whoever he is is thus systematically made canon of honor of the basilica Saint-Jean of Lateran.
The church that we can admire today dates from the seventeenth century, under the pontificate of Urban V, and is the second largest church in Rome, with its 130m long. The white facade built between 1732 and 1735, all travertine, was designed by the Florentine Alessandro Galilei, with the monumental statues at the top. These statues 7m high represent Jesus, Saint John and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the doctors of the church. The gigantic bronze door is an ancient door, which is none other than that of the ancient Roman Curia! On the pediment, we can read "omnium urbis and orbis ecclesiarum mater and caput", mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.
The inner structure of the basilica is the work of Francesco Borromini, executed in Baroque style. Work began during the holy year, the Jubilee of 1650, commissioned by Pope Innocent X. Of the 14 original arcades, he went to 5, thus completely reworking the interior space of the basilica, which found the spirit of the ancient building, with its 5 naves. In each niche of the nave, 130m long, we can see the statues of the apostles who watch the faithful coming to the church. These statues were carved between 1703 and 1719. The side chapels are also from the genius of Borromini. The play of lights that Borromini has created is stunning, with the light coming in through the windows, like skylights. This special light reinforces the sacred side of this place. Borromini will preserve the soil, from the Middle Ages, and the ceiling, in painted boxes and gilded moldings, carved wood of the sixteenth century.
The basilica floor deserves all the attention of the world. It is a soil that we call "cosmatesque". This type of floor, made of innumerable pieces of marble, was typical of medieval Italy, fond of this type of mosaic. The name comes from Laurent Cosma and his family, the Cosmati, craftsmen who created many of these works, taking marble from the ancient Roman ruins. These soils are absolutely splendid, impressing me much more than all the statues of the church: we are not used to walking on something so beautiful, and its omnipresence gives this warm aspect to Saint Jean de Latran, very different from the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals.