Often referred to as ‘Sistine Chapel of Early Renaissance’, the Brancacci Chapel was commissioned by Pietro Brabcacci in 1386 and is located in the Church of Santa Maria. Young Massacio, at the age of 21 years, was given the task of painting the chapel, which was completed by Filippino Lippi, after Massacio’s early death. The Chapel is known for its paintings, which must not be missed, if you are in Florence.

Prominent amongst Massacio’s work in the Chapel is The Tribute Money which, through Jesus and Peter, brings to life the history of implementation of the income tax in Florence. Just to its left is Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, which has a realistic appeal. The nudity in the painting was covered up with fig leaves after three centuries to meet the then societal norms. Masolini, Massacio’s teacher at one time and then his student, contributed to Chapel with his The Temptation of Adam and Eve and Healing of the Cripple. Lippi, who completed Massacio’s work also painted St. Paul Visiting St. Peter in Prison and Disputation with Simon Magus and Crucifixion of St. Peterto to name a few.

The art work was once restored, soon after Lippi completed his work and once in 16th century. During a much recent restoration in 1980s, cover ups of nudity in the paintings were removed and you can now see these paintings, the actual way the artist wanted them to be.

The Santo Spirito or the Basilica of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito, is another building in Florence that is credited to the brilliant Renaissance architect- Filippo Brunelleschi. The Santo Spirito was built as a twin to the church of Saint Lorenzo which was also initially designed by Brunelleschi.
The Santo Spirito was constructed on the site where once stood a thirteenth century Augustanian convent that was destroyed in a fire. Although the church was designed by Brunelleschi, he did not live long enough to see his plan take form. However, his designs and plans were incorporated and influenced the construction of the building tremendously.
At first glance the Santo Spirito, with its plain exteriors, may not look like a very impressive building. However the true beauty and design can be appreciated in the interiors of the church. The interior of the church is termed as one the finest specimen that displays the grandeur and elegance of Renaissance architecture. One can see a lot of Baroque embellishes in the interiors, and a special mention to Baldachin over the high raised altar. The walls of the chapel are adorned with some of the finest works of Fillipino Lippi, Alessandro Allori, Fransesco Botticini, Cosimo Rosselli and other renowned renaissance artists.
However, sharing similar fate with its twin, the Santo Spirito too has a plain façade.

The Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Laurentian Library) is extraordinary not only for its architectural design but also for its collection of books and manuscripts. Housed in a cloister of the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the architect for this library was Michelangelo and work was finished by Ammannati in 1568. The design of the building was appreciated by contemporaries of Michelangelo and new ideas put into the building were termed revolutionary.

Built on existing walls of the Quattrocento, Michelangelo decided to place the columns in the walls. This makes every visitor question the strength of the structure. The reading room, consisting of two columns of seats with an aisle has well placed windows which also make you appreciate the ceiling and the floor of the room.

As a library, this structure is home to over 11,000 manuscripts, many of which are on papyrus and sourced from Egypt. In addition, the royal family opened its own private library to the public by lending its books. Some books were even chained to the floor to ensure that the books do not leave the library. The library has collections of famous Florentine authors like Salutati, Niccoli, Ficino etc. and works like Tacitus, Pliny, Quintilian etc. It is believed that the library was commissioned to accentuate the rise of the Medici family as intellectuals in the society. A dual delight, this structure is a must see in Florence.

Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the biggest and oldest churches in Florence. The church is one of the city's prominent examples of Renaissance architecture and was built by the leading architects during that period - Brunelleschi and Michelangelo. The church owns an impressive amount of works of art.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is a Gothic cathedral in the Historic center of Florence, however the dome is one of the most ample projects of the Renaissance style. Even today, it remains one of the largest domes in the world and one of the biggest achievements of Brunelleschi.

Florence is not only the paradise for architectural enthusiasts, but is also the haven for art lovers and the Bargello Museum is a perfect blend of both.

With an exterior of a fortress, the Bargello Museum houses some of the most important pieces of Renaissance sculptures and work of art. The Bargello Museum, located in the Palazzo del Popolo, is one of the oldest structures in the city of Florence and dates back to 1255. Throughout history, the building has served as a fortress, a Palace, a Prison and most recently a museum.

Initially the structure was used as the headquarters of the Captain of the People, the Peoples Palace, after which it served as the residence of Bargello in the sixteenth century. Later in the eighteenth century, the Bargello Fortress acted as a prison up until the mid nineteenth century, when it was converted into a museum.

The museum is home to some of the finest Gothic decorative art, where one gets to see works of great artists like Donatello, Michelangelo, Fillipo Brunelleschi etc. Among the treasures of the Renaissance artists and craftsman, the museum also houses rare pieces of artefacts from the Byzantine, Roman and medieval era, along with beautiful jewellery right from the Renaissance period down to the Islamic period.

Florence is the heart and soul of the Renaissance and the Pazzi Chapel is considered to be the epitome of Renaissance architecture. In a period surrounded with the elegant and predominant buildings of Gothic style architecture, the Pazzi Chapel comes as a wave of freshness introducing the immergence of the upcoming Renaissance style of buildings.
History has it that the Renaissance style in architecture was first developed in Florence. Typically for Renaissance architecture, the emphasis is laid on clean, elegant and proportionate geometry of buildings as opposed to the ornate, detailed and irregular complex structures which can be appreciated in the Pazzi Chapel. The Pazzi Chapel was designed by none other than Filippo Brunelleschi, who is considered as one of prime innovators of Renaissance architecture.
The structure was envisioned in 1429 by Andrea Pazzi, a member of the second richest family after the Medicis, but the construction of the chapel did not begin until 1441. The Chapel was completed in 1460, nearly two decades after the death of the architect- Filippo Brunelleschi.
Despite a major portion of the Chapel being constructed long after his death, the overall design and geometric proportions of the structure are credited to the architectural skills of Brunelleschi. The design of the sphere atop the square structure of the chapel is recognized as a classic Brunelleschi, excluding however the building’s details.