The Spanish Chapel

Private Tours of Florence

The Spanish Chapel

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The Spanish Chapel (Cappellone degli Spagnoli) is the former Chapter House of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria Novella. It was originally commissioned by Buonamico Guidalotti as his funerary chapel and built (c. 1343-55) by Fra' Jacopo Talenti. The chapel is located on the north side of the Chiostro Verde (Green Cloister).  

​The walls and vault were frescoed (c.1365-8) by Andrea di Bonaiuto, also known as Andrea da Firenze, and assistants. The four cells of the vault contain images of the Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost and the Navicella. On the altar wall are scenes of the Via Dolorosa, Crucifixion and the Descent into Limbo, while the right wall illustrates the Church as the Path to Salvation. The left wall depicts the Triumph of Catholic Doctrine and the badly-damaged frescoes on the entrance wall illustrate scenes from the Life of St Peter Martyr.   
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​The Guidalotti Chapel only came to be called the Spanish Chapel when Duke Cosimo I de' Medici (r. 1537-74) assigned it to his Spanish wife Eleonora di Toldeo (1522-62) and her retinue. ​

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The Church as the Path to Salvation

The Church as the Path to Salvation (det.)

Vault frescoes

The Ascension of Christ