Orsanmichele

This site was a convent Benedictine at the beginning of the Christian era, and the grounds cultivated around in truck farm, probably to Arno.

In 750, the oratory became a small church, dedicated to St Michel Archange, “San Michele in Orto” (St Michel with the Garden), shortened in a name which still remains: Orsanmichele.

The first church was demolished completely in 1240, when the Florentine Republic decided to build a public building on the site, to shelter a market with cereals.

Built by Arnolfo di Cambio (1284-1290), the building was destroyed by a fire in 1304, and was replaced (1337-1350) by the current building whose realization was entrusted to the most famous architects florentins of the time: Francesco Talenti, Benci di Cione, Neri di Fioravante which also built the Vecchio Big shot. The project comprised the enlarging of the room, and the addition of additional stages. The external pillars were allotted to the various corporations, which had the load to decorate them with stat

The structure of the building is modified in 1367-1380, then finished in 1404 by Simone Talenti: the arches were closed, and the building was again devoted to the religion. With the top of the church remained of the attics with grain, until the Large Duke Cosimo makes them transform into center of solicitors records, in 1569.

Currently, this part of the building which is visited on go, is used for the conservation of files, and the exposures of art. These parts are accessible also since Palazzo dell' Arte della Lana, located opposite Orsanmichele, the stages of the two buildings being connected by a broad arch of XVIème century. Outside, one can admire 14 statues, sheltered in niches, each one being financed by one of the major corporations of the time. The corporations asked the most famous artists of the moment to decorate the niches and to carry out bronze or marble statues, dedicated to their patron saint.

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