Museo di Santa Maria Novella

This museum is housed within the former cloisters of the church which was the first large basilica constructed in Florence and is the present day principle Dominican church of the city. The church is called "novella" or new as it was constructed on the site of a former 9 th century oratory. Friar Lacopo Talenti supervised the final stages of construction in 1360 including the completion of the bell tower. The church was consecrated in 1420. The façade features blind arches, pilasters and green and white stripped Gothic arches; the pattern is repeated on the courtyard walls. Above the pilasters and arches is a design in black and white inlayed marble. A decorative frieze runs across the facade which is topped with a pediment featuring the Dominican emblem. The breathtaking Chiostro Verde or Green Cloisters were constructed in 1332-1362, it is called "green" thanks to the green shade used as a base for Paolo Uccello's frescoes which adorn the walls. Cappella digli Spagnoli is where you can see Andrea di Bonaiuto's frescoes. A wealth of treasure is kept both in the cloisters and the adjoining chapterhouse. The best known pieces are Gothic-style and Renaissance frescoes. From the cloisters you can follow a passage way which leads to the 14 th century Cappella degli Ubriachi and the cloister dining room where the Last Supper was painted in 1583 by Alessandro Allori.