Among my favorite churches in Florence is Santa Felicita. I love this church for many, many reasons.  Let me count them.

1. Size: It is not too large and not too small.  It feels just right. You can walk in and not feel overwhelmed by the size and scale of architecture, altar, chapels and more.

 

2. Location, location, location: Just steps from the world-famous Ponte Vecchio

 

 

3. Little known and under appreciated.  Which means that it is never swarmed with tourists despite its premier location.  At all times of day and every season of the year the Ponte Vecchio seems to be covered with tourists from around the globe, and yet, Santa Felicita is rarely visited by the hordes.  It is an oasis within a sea of chaos.  Which is exactly what churches are meant to be, I think.

Santa Felicita is a jewel, awaiting a visit by cogniscenti. Tourists pass by, thinking the edifice is just a backdrop for their frenzied nearby shopping extravaganza.

 

4. Design: The cherry on top it is that the design is as fine as the church is petite.

But oh, the loveliness that awaits those who enter.

The serene gray hue of Tuscan pietra serena architectural details against the cool white plaster walls work together to create a calm, harmonized interior. The unadorned vaulted ceilings and the black and white marble floors and  provide just the right amount of understated elegance to finish the setting. The interior is flooded with ambient light from the high windows during daytime hours.

5. Another thing that sets this pretty church apart from all the others in town is that it probably the oldest in the city, right after San Lorenzo.  The first church on this site was probably built in the late 4th century and was dedicated to Saint Felicity of Rome. A new church was built in the 11th century and the current church largely dates from 1736–1739, under design by Ferdinando Ruggieri, who turned it into a one nave edifice.  Oh, the history!

 

6. The Vasari Corridor passes through the façade of this church and on the inside there is large window, covered by a thick gate, where the Grand Dukes of the Medici family used to listen to the mass without being seen by the people staying at ground level.

The picture above is of the nave shot from the Vasari Corridor.

 

7. Masterpieces of Mannerist style paintings by Pontormo.  Pontormo is one of my favorite artists but I will admit that, like Campari, Pontormo is an acquired taste.  I love his work so much that I plan to devote a post to him soon.

 

8.  The entry Vestibule is one of my favorite indoor/outdoor spaces in Florence.  It is simple and feels very Tuscan.  Here are some shots of what I love about the vestibule.

The wrought iron separates the church from the hoi polloi in the the street and piazza outside.

 

Ever wonder what the walls would look like without a fresco adorning them?  Here’s the answer:

 

 

The muse of painting takes a nap while the muse of music plays a soothing tune.

Santa Felicita, a Florentine jewel.