The Convent of Certosa in Florence is known for its incredible collection of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. The collection was once very large, but theft (Napoleon Bonaparte) and expropriation have greatly reduced the collection. Nevertheless, what remains at Certosa is amazing to see.
The collection is housed in the church and also in a museum next to the church. Below is a photographic tour of the museum.
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| Pantormo's frescoes that once lined the Great Cloister are displayed in the museum. |
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| Christ before Pilate by Pontormo (1523-1525) |
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| The Resurrection by Pontormo (1523-1525) |
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| The Resurrection by Empoli (replica of Pontormo's fresco above) |
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| St. Peter Martyr of Verona (probably St. Peter due to the weapons in his skull and body) |
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| A crucifix from the 1300's |
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| Dinner at Emmaus by Pontormo (1525) |
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| San Bruno |
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| San Lorenzo |
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| San Lorenzo (carved wooden panel in a door). San Lorenzo was an early martyr and was believed (mistakenly due to a bad translation) to have been martyred by being roasted alive on a grill over a fire. The legend is that he was very hard to kill. You might remember the joke from an earlier post: San Lorenzo said, "I'm well done. Turn me over." |
While visiting Certosa, we discovered a working distillery. Apparently, the Cistercian monks at Certosa are well known for revering both the holy spirit and earthly spirits.
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| The convent's distillery. No joke. |
We were thankful that the store was open when we visited.
The selection was varied and we dutifully purchased some small bottles for sampling later.
In addition to liquor, the monks at Certosa also produce honey, miele in Italian. In fact, the hives are located on the hillside next to the convent.
Thanks for touring the Convent of Certosa with us.
P.S. We can attest, based on firsthand knowledge, that the Cistercians know liquor.
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