L'Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio

Florence, Italy

The historic building of Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio in Florence, located near Piazza Santa Croce, has a rich history. Initially a Templar hospital in the Middle Ages, it later became the seat of the Company of Santa Maria della Croce al Tempio, a Florentine brotherhood founded in 1343. Notable figures like Lorenzo the Magnificent and Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger were associated with the brotherhood.

The architecture of the oratory reflects the period it was built in. The simple facade features irregular stones and a wooden door adorned with coats of arms. Inside, the single nave room has a terracotta floor and a trussed roof. The walls are adorned with doors crafted in pietra serena, and near the presbytery, there are plaques commemorating historical events.

The fresco on the back wall, created in 1928, is a celebration of the Company. Depicting the Madonna del Giglio in glory, it also showcases the Florentine walls, Porta San Niccolò, and the Arno River. The damaged fresco depicts two processions, one of the brothers and the other of illustrious figures associated with the brotherhood, such as Pope Eugene IV and Saint Francis. The flood of 1966 heavily damaged this artwork.

Address

L'Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio, Via di S. Giuseppe, 50122 Florence, Italy, Google Maps