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October 14, 2012 · 11:32 am

“Bonfire of the Vanities” in Florence Italy in 1497

San Marco Convent (1440) is the former monastery of the Dominicans in Florence, Italy. It was commissioned by Cosimo the Elder Medici. The history of the cloisters, dormitories and cells is linked to Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo and contoversial Friar Girolamo Savonarola. Friar Girolamo Savonarola was the Prior of the convent. The convent is a museum now. During the 15th century, it was the home of two famous Dominicans: the painter Fra Angelico and the preacher, Girolamo Savonarola. The convent’s library was built by Michelozzo. It has a famous collection of manuscripts.

Fra Angelico, Annunciation at the top of the stairs, San Marco (Photo credit: profzucker)

The convent contains most of Fra Angelico’s work since he spent most of his life at San Marco. Two of may favorites are: “Last Judgment” (1432-35) and “The Annunciation” (1450). The annunciation is at the top of the stairs in San Marco.

Girolamo Savonarola (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Annunciation, painted by Fra Angelico (1387-1455) (Florence) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fra Bartolomeo’s portrait of “Savonarola” is shown in this post and is located in the Museum of San Marco. Girolamo Savonarola was an eloquent and persuasive Dominican priest and the perpetrator of a “Bonfire of the Vanities” in the Piazza della Signoria.

c. 1437-1446 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He used his puritanical influence to denounce decadent objects including art and books and encouraged Florentine residents to torch immoral objects that led to moral corruption. This was before the days of Sarbannes-Oxley and Enron.

Execution of Girolamo Savonarola in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Plaque commemorating the spot where Girolamo Savonarola was executed in the Piazza Della Signoria, Florence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The theocratic leader with an aversion for evil and dishonesty was ultimately hanged and burned in 1498 in Piazza della Signoria. There is a plaque commemorating this spot in Piazza Della Signoria.

La Predica di Savonarola (Photo credit: Morkai79)

View at Piazza della Signoria from the front balcony of Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a great Vino con Vista Site in Florence. When you admire his portrait in the Dominican convent of San Marco that was painted by Fra Bartolomeo in 1498 look at the Latin inscription. It says: “Portrait of the Prophet Jerome of Ferrara, sent by God.”

Monument to Girolamo Savonarola in Piazza Savonarola, Florence, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. Eveann Lovero writes Travel Guides to Italy and

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Filed under Bonfire of the Vanities, Florence, IPad, Italian art, Italy, Italy Travel Guides, Renaissance Art, Savonarola, UNESCO, vino con vista, World Heritage Sites

Tagged as Annunciation, Bonfire of the Vanities, Dominican Order, Florence, Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo, Girolamo Savonarola, History, Italy, Last Judgment, Palazzo Pitti, Piazza della Signoria, Renaissance Florence, San Marco, Travel and Tourism, Tuscany, unesco, vino con vista, What is the BOnfire of the Vanities, Where is Piazza della Signora, Who is Savonarola, World Heritage Site

May 7, 2012 · 10:56 am

The Beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome Italy

Façade with obelisk, Santa Maria sopra Minerva...

Image via Wikipedia

Piazza della Minerva with Bernini’s Elephant

The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva was built above the ruins of a temple to honor the goddess Minerva that was built by Gnaeus Pompey the Great around 50 B.C. to honor his Asian victories. The basilica is located in Piazza della Minerva. On the right side of the facade of the basilica look for inscriptions that mark the flooding of the Tiber River between 1422 and 1870 because this is the lowest point in Rome and was subject to frequent flooding. Some of the Tiber flood waters rose to as high as 65 feet.

Interior of the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the only Gothic church in Rome. The church houses the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Dominicans began construction on the gothic church in 1280 and used Santa Maria Novella in Florence as their model. Above the main doorway’s triangular pediment is the coat of arms of the Dominican Pope St. Pius V (1566-1572)

To the right of the neo-medieval church facade, admire the Palazzo Fonseca which is now the luxurious Grand Hotel Minerva. Stop in for a lovely Vino con Vista.

Lobby of the Grand Hotel Minerva

Grand Hotel Minerva in Rome ItalyInterior of the Grand Hotel Minerva in Rome Italy

Gian Lorenzo Bernini‘s famous smiling elephant called “Pulcino della Minerva” supports one of Rome’s smallest Egyptian obelisks that was escavated in the Domenican cloister and brought to Rome by Diocletian during his reign from 284-305. The Latin inscription at the base of the monument that was commissioned by Pope Alexander VII says “A strong mind is needed to support solid knowledge.”

see filename (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Detail of the vault (one of the 4 sibyls : Sibyl of Delphi) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bernini also has some interesting works inside the basilica including the funeral monument of Maria Raggi constructed in 1643. Before San Giovani dei Fiorentini was built, Minerva was the church of the Florentine nation and houses tombs of nobles and citizens from Florence including Pope Urban VII. Fra Angelico and Pope Paul IV. The tombs of two Medici popes Leo X and Clement VII are located in the choir area behind the altar.

Altar in Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bernini’s monument to Maria Raggi

Bernini

One of the fascinating aspects of sightseeing in Rome is visiting the churches to view an amazing spectrum of art.

There are over 900 churches in Rome Italy and they are the frequented by religious pilgrims and locals. These amazing churches are repositories of the relics of martyrs that are venerated within as well as priceless artistic treasures. The Gothic Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is located in Piazza della Minerva near the Pantheon.

Rear view of the Pantheon from Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome Italy

Look for the trusty map inside the church to help you identify the key artwork in the basilica. In front of the altar you will find a staue of St. John the Baptist by Giuseppe Obici (1858) on the right and Michelangelo’s ”Risen Christ the Redeemer” on the Left.

The churches of Rome (hotair.com)

Michelangelo’s statue of “Christ the Risen Redeemer” was started in 1519 and shipped unfinished from Florence in 1521. The bronze draping was added later.

Saint Catherine of Siena is also buried in the Basilica beneath the main altar; although her head is in the church of San Domenico in Siena. The monument was created by Isaia da Pisa in 1430. In 1939, Saint Catherine and Saint Francis of Assisi were proclaimed principal patrons of Italy and she was also proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970.

The Chapel of Saint Dominic has a painting byPaolo de Matteis and Benedict XIII’s tomb is protected by a lovely statue of “Purity” by Pieto Brracci on the right side of the ornate tomb.

Visit the Carafa Chapel of Saint Thomas Aquinas with beautiful frescoes by Filippino Lippi. I love the scene that depicts St. Thomas presenting Cardinal Carafa to the Blessed Virgin. The relics of St. Thomas were kept in this chapel until 1511, when they were moved to Naples.

In the Chapel dedicated to the Annunciation you can admire the “Annunciation” painting by Antoniazzo Romano. The Virgin is shown giving dowries to young girls who are kneeling with Cardinal Juan de Torquemada. The cardinal is buried nearby.