Churches: Church of the Sacred Heart

Strolling aimlessly in Florence is usually a pleasant experience.

A while back, we were wandering a neighborhood near our home.  We turned a corner and spotted the church bell tower pictured below. 

Church of the Sacred Heart, Florence

Our first impression was negative.  The tower is gray concrete, not very pleasing to the eye.  The design is modern (from the early 1960's), which is jarring in a city filled with Medieval- and Renaissance-style buildings. 

After studying the bell tower for a bit, our negative impression softened.  The tower's design draws your attention upward to see the cross on top silhouetted against the blue sky.  The afternoon sun lights the concrete and turns it almost white.  The tower is solidly constructed with steel and concrete, but the open columns give the tower an airy feel.  So, after studying the tower, we decided we liked it after all. 

Church of the Sacred Heart, Florence

When reading the marker in front of the church (photo above), we learned that noted architect and engineer Pier Luigi Nervi assisted in the design of the tower.  Nervi emphasized the use of steel reinforced concrete in many of his projects, including the bell tower in Florence.

So, our aimless stroll rewarded us with a pleasant surprise.