Church of Santo Spirito

The often overlooked yet definitive Renaissance church
Word to the wise: Don’t forget to check out the Cenacolo - a small refectory that’s home to fragments of a Gothic ‘Last Supper’, as well as two reliefs by Donatello.

If you’ve ever wanted proof of the old mantra ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, Santo Spirito provides it. The church’s plain and uninviting facade is contrasted with the grand elegance and beauty of the interior - one of the pre-eminent examples of Renaissance architecture.
Originally designed by Filippo Brunelleschi (the main architect of Il Duomo) in 1428, it was then embellished by some of the greatest artists of the 15th and 16th centuries. So you’ll find grand columns and marbles by Caccini, spectacular side chapels by Sangallo, intricate stained glass by Perugino and beautiful frescoes by everyone from Botticini to Lippi, Rosselli to Sansovino. Not forgetting the wooden crucifix carved by a 17-year-old Michelangelo.

Despite being one of the city’s most spectacular sights, Santo Spirito isn’t particularly high on tourist checklists , so you can enjoy a mercifully quiet look around the place.