|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While the dominicans held court at the church of Santa Maria, the Franciscans were based at the enormous church of Santa Croce: As it was used as the mausoleum of Florence's eminent citizens, the floor is paved with more than 270 tombstones. It is also home to monuments that commemorate Ghiberti, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo. Immediately inside the door is the monument to Michelangelo by Vasari's. Michelangelo requested this spot where he was placed when his body was brought back from Rome in 1574. As a devout catholic his idea was that on Judgement Day when the graves of the dead fly open, the first thing he would see would be dome of the Duomo by Brunelleschi. On the opposite side of the church is the tomb of Galileo who was entombed in the church when it was finally agreed that the scientist, who flew in the fact of the catholic church, could have a Christian burial. Leonardo Bruni tomb was designed by Bernardo and has inspired innumerable imitations. The chapels at the east end of Santa Croce are entirely covered with frescoes by Giotto. As the seat of the Francescans it is only fitting that the first Cappella Bardi features scenes from the life of St Francis while the second capella Bardi holds the wooden crucifix by Donatello, a piece that was critized by Brunelleschi as a crude work that resembled a peasant on the cross. The works in the Cappella Peruzzi depicts the lives of St John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. |