Chiesa di Santa Felicita (Church of St. Felicity), Florence

Chiesa di Santa Felicita (Church of St. Felicity), Florence

Dedicated to Saint Felicity – an early Roman martyr, this church ranks among the oldest in Florence, having possibly been founded in the 2nd century AD by Greek or Syrian merchants, the city's pioneers of Christianity. A new church was built in the 11th century and the current edifice dates from 1736–39, under design by Ferdinando Ruggieri, who turned it into a single-nave edifice.

Santa Felicita was on the path of the secret corridor that stretched from the Old Palace ("Palazzo Vecchio") to the Pitti Palace, the Medici family residence. The Medicis used to come here to attend mass from a high balcony at the back so they would not be seen by other people. However, the main reason for a visit of the interior is the amazing Italian Renaissance painting masterpiece, the "Deposition from the Cross" (1525–28) by Jacopo Pontormo, one of the early Florentine Renaissance masters in the same era as Michaelangelo.

Pontormo's picture is highly unconventional: from the quasi-angelic creatures bearing Christ's body to the billows of gorgeously colored drapery that almost engulf the scene; many of the figures seem to be standing in mid-air rather than on solid ground; and there's no trace of the cross, the thieves, soldiers or any of the other scene-setting elements usual in paintings of this subject – the only contextual feature is a solitary ghostly cloud. The bearded, cloaked figure on the right (Nicodemus) is believed to be a self-portrait of the artist.

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Chiesa di Santa Felicita (Church of St. Felicity) on Map

Sight Name: Chiesa di Santa Felicita (Church of St. Felicity)
Sight Location: Florence, Italy (See walking tours in Florence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Florence, Italy

Create Your Own Walk in Florence

Create Your Own Walk in Florence

Creating your own self-guided walk in Florence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour

Michelangelo's Masterpieces Walking Tour

Michelangelo spent over 20 years of his life in Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance – during which time he created some of the most beautiful masterpieces the city had ever seen. The most famous of them – the David – was larger than life, and brought a larger-than-life image to the artist. No amount of photos or copies of the statue will do it justice, so to see it with your own...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Arno South Bank Walking Tour

Arno South Bank Walking Tour

The area south of Arno river, also called Oltrarno ("Beyond the Arno"), is a quieter place but not less interesting. Here you can find the Pitti Palace whose collection of paintings is second only to the Uffizi, and the vast Boboli Gardens once enjoyed by the Medici and the royal family. One of the first and most important examples of "Italian Gardens", they later served as...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Dante's Florence Walking Tour

Dante's Florence Walking Tour

Dante Alighieri was arguably the greatest – albeit also most controversial – of Italy's poets. After having served as one of the six priors governing Florence, his political activities – including the banishing of several rivals – led to his own banishment, upon which he wrote his masterpiece, “The Divine Comedy”, as a wanderer, seeking protection for his family in one town after...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Duomo Walking Tour

Duomo Walking Tour

Located in the very heart of historic Florence, the Duomo area is deservedly considered the city’s religious and civic center, replete with numerous landmarks. Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, the two most important squares in the city, are steeped in history and the sights and activities found here are truly endless.

The most prominent of these, undoubtedly, is the breathtaking...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Florence Food Tour

Florence Food Tour

Food is one of the great Florentine passions, and the great thing about having a delicious authentic Tuscan meal, a snack, delicatessen, or a quality gelato here – besides the abundant variety – is not having to spend a lot of money for it.

In general, the “osterias” and the eateries nestled in Sant’Ambrogio Market will offer cheaper and more casual food with an emphasis on home...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Florence Introduction Walking Tour

Florence Introduction Walking Tour

The city of Florence was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for veteran soldiers. It was built initially in the style of an army garrison – with main streets intersecting at today's Piazza della Repubblica. The original name, Fluentia, stems from its location between the two rivers; later, it was renamed Florentia, which means “flowering” or “flourishing”.

The...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

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