Churches: The Basilica of San Lorenzo

Not far from our apartment is one of the large Florentine churches, the Basilica di San Lorenzo.

The Basilica di San Lorenzo:  The rough stone façade was never covered, despite the existence of a detailed plan.  The façade reminds us to not judge a book by its cover.  Check out the interior picture below.

San Lorenzo became the family church of the Medici.  The family funded the church in part and many of the family members were buried there. 

The church is old.  The first church on the site dates from the late 4th century.  It was rebuilt in the 11th century.  It was rebuilt again in the 15th century based on a Filippo Brunelleschi design.

It is a Renaissance building with a much different feel than other churches in Florence.  Rather than being dark and overwhelming, the church is light, open and uplifting, thanks to Brunelleschi.  According to our knowledgeable guide, Brunelleschi designed the church to appeal to a visitor's reason, not to irrational emotion.  The new architecture was intended to foster free thinking. 

The Basilica di San Lorenzo:  the nave viewed from the entrance

The Basilica di San Lorenzo:  the dome above the main altar

The Basilica di San Lorenzo:  the dome in the old sacristy

Who was San Lorenzo?  He was one tough saint with  great sense of humor. 

Lorenzo lived in the third century.  In Rome, he served the early Christian church as a deacon and treasurer.  In time, the Roman emperor ordered seizure of the church's treasures.  The legend says that Lorenzo obeyed the emperor in his own way.  Lorenzo gathered up the church's material wealth, but instead of giving it to the emperor, he distributed it to Rome's poor and oppressed.  He then went to the emperor, presented a group of Rome's poorest citizens, and said these people are the church's true treasures.  The humorless emperor did not appreciate the irony of Lorenzo's gesture and ordered him to be executed. 

The means of execution was a grill over a fire.  Lorenzo endured it for a long time and finally said, "I'm well done on this side.  Turn me over!"  Hence, San Lorenzo is the patron saint of chefs and comedians.  No joke.

The Martyrdom of San Lorenzo by Bronzino (1569)