Florence - San Firenze

The Baroque complex of San Firenze consisting of two church facades with a palace between them is in the Piazza San Firenze not far from the city's main square, the Piazza della Signoria. Its appearance reflects its chequered history. The church of San Filippo Neri was built by Gherardo Silvani (1633-1648) on the site of an old oratory dedicated to San Fiorenzo (hence the name "Firenze") that had been passed to the brotherhood of priests of St Philip Neri.

The church facade (1715) is by Ferdinando Ruggieri. The church of Sant'Appolinare was built nearby between 1772 and 1775, with a facade also in accordance with Ruggieri's 1715 designs. At the same time a palazzo was built between the two churches, originally incorporating the cloister areas. Nowadays San Firenze is the seat of the Tribunale, the judicial authority.