Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Florence

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Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Florence

Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Florence

This is a place of devotion dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a revered title for the Virgin Mary. First built in the late 13th century, the building’s surviving Romanesque-Gothic exterior offers a glimpse into its medieval origins. But the church’s story took a dramatic turn in the 1700s when a fire ravaged through, sparing only one section: the now-famous Brancacci Chapel.

That chapel is one of the cornerstones of early Renaissance art. Work began in 1425, when Masolino da Panicale was commissioned to paint its walls. He soon brought in a young apprentice, Masaccio, just 21 years old at the time. Masaccio’s contributions turned out to be groundbreaking—his naturalistic figures and bold use of perspective would shape the future of Western painting. Sadly, he died just three years later, leaving the work incomplete. The frescoes remained unfinished until decades later, when Filippino Lippi added his own touch, completing the chapel in harmony with Masaccio’s vision.

Another notable part of the church is the Corsini Chapel, created for one of Florence’s most prominent families during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was built in 1675 to house the remains of Andrea Corsini, a nobleman-turned-Carmelite friar and Bishop of Fiesole, who was later canonized. The chapel is a textbook example of Florentine Baroque, and features a lovely dome frescoed in 1682. Look up, and you’ll see the ceiling brought to life by Giovanni Domenico Ferretti—his Rococo style adds a dramatic flair that still stands out centuries later.

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Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) on Map

Sight Name: Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
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

Though born in the small Tuscan town of Caprese, Michelangelo spent over two decades of his life in Florence—the heart of the Renaissance. It was here that he grew up, was educated, and began shaping his artistic voice, eventually creating some of the most iconic masterpieces the city has ever known.

His larger-than-life work—“David”—didn’t just reshape the image of biblical...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 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

Florence was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. Laid out like a Roman military camp, its main roads intersected at what is now the Republic Square. Originally named Fluentia, referencing its location between two rivers, the city later adopted the name Florentia, meaning “flowering” or “flourishing”.

And flourish it did. During the Middle Ages and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 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
Florence's Hidden Art Treasures

Florence's Hidden Art Treasures

The “Cradle of the Renaissance,” Florence is one of Europe’s most beautiful and busiest destinations, home to some of the world's greatest pieces of art and architecture. The iconic masters like Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as their somewhat less-known but equally talented counterparts, such as Ghirlandaio, Sangallo and Castagno, have blessed this city with...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
In Galileo's Footsteps

In Galileo's Footsteps

Galileo Galilei—born in Pisa in 1564—spent much of his life in and around Florence, where some of the most defining moments of his revolutionary career unfolded. A genius of many talents—physicist, mathematician, astronomer, inventor—he helped usher in the scientific revolution and reshape humanity’s understanding of the universe. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, became a...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 8.0 Km or 5 Miles

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