Florence - Badia Fiorentina

The spire of the Badia opposite the Palazzo del Bargello is an unmistakable feature of the skyline of Florence. This church and its Benedictine abbey was founded in 978 by Willa, the mother of Ugo, Margrave of Tuscany (commemorated here every year on December 21st, the anniversary of his death). The church was subsequently enlarged by Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century and then internally virtually rebuilt by Matteo Segaloni in the 17th century. Interesting features of the Gothic facade are the portal by Benedetto da Rovezzano (1495) with a "Madonna and Child" (early 16th century) in glazed terracotta by Benedetto Buglioni in the lunette. A walk round the church should take in Filippino Lippi's masterpiece (1485) "The Madonna appearing to St Bernard" (left of the entrance), the tomb of Ugo, Margrave of Tuscany (d. 1001), built between 1469 and 1481 by Mino da Fiesole (in the left transept), and, entered from the Choir of the church, the beautiful 15th century cloister, popularly known as the "Chiostro degli Aranci" because of its orange trees, with a fresco of scenes from the life of St Benedict dating from the completion of the cloister (ca.1436-1439).