Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Santi Michele e Gaetano

Bell tower of the church of Santi Michele and Gaetano (Saint Michael and Saint Cajetan), Seen from Via dei Pescioni, Florence

Bell tower of the church of Santi Michele and Gaetano (Saints Michael and Cajetan)
Seen from Via dei Pescioni
Florence, May 2022

“San Gaetano, also known as Santi Michele e Gaetano, is a Baroque church in Florence, Italy, located on the Piazza Antinori, entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. A Romanesque church, dedicated solely to Saint Michael the Archangel, had been located at the site for centuries prior to its Baroque reconstruction. Patronized by the Theatine order, the new church was dedicated to Saint Cajetan, one of the founders of the order, though the church could not formally be named after him until his canonisation in 1671. Funding for this reconstruction was obtained from the noble families in Florence, including the Medicis. Cardinal Carlo de' Medici was particularly concerned with the work, and his name is inscribed on the façade. Building took place between 1604 and 1648. The original designs were by Bernardo Buontalenti but a number of architects had a hand in building it, each of whom changed the design. The most important architects were Matteo Nigetti and Gherardo Silvani.” (San Gaetano, Wikipedia)

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