The tour concluded at the Bargello, so I headed back to the hotel to plan the activities for the rest of my stay, and specifically for the rest of the day.
The view looking roughly north east from my hotel room, along Via Nazionale. During my stay here there was some heavy rain and lightning - quite a good view out this window. The window also had shutters on it. But if the glass windows were opened, the air conditioning would shut off - quite a good idea.
The apartment building on the left of the above photo. The residents have established quite a garden on the roof, as well as a pleasant area to enjoy the cool air.
So, when I found out that this church, Santa Maria Novella, was just across the street from the station, I understood the SMN designation. I don't know if there is another station. But back to the church: this is the facade, completed in 1470 by Leon Battista Alberti. As with the cathedral, it is decorated in white, red and green marble. The brick tower on the left is at the rear of the church, and the train station is the other side of Piazza della Stazione which adjoins the tower.
No photos are allowed inside the church, which has the "usual" art treasures of the early Renaissance period. The most famous piece is Masaccio's The Trinity; Masaccio was the first painter to use perspective, and this painting looks like a hole knocked in the wall. Masaccio extended the work of Giotto on perspective and realism.
The piazza in front of the church. For some centuries it was used for horse and carriage races; the two marble obelisks (one to the left, the other just visible in front of the church) were pylons around which the races took place.`
The base of one of the marble obelisks - the marble section sits on the bronze turtles.
Dinner time was approaching, and I wanted some more dusk photos, so I opted for "as early as possible" a dinner, at another excellent restaurant recommended by the hotel.
Walking Tour
