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San Marco Convent (museum of)

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:59:29 +0000

The Dominican Observant convent of San Marco was built starting 1436 and frescoed almost in its entirety by Fra Angelico from 1440-50 (approx.). It is a marvel of the effective use of painting in functional, religious spaces.

Annunciation in cell

A small museum contains panel paintings by Fra Angelico (to the right of the entrance door, off the courtyard). The courtyard also gives access to a chapter house (where the friars held daily meetings), with a large painting of a Crucifixion. On this same level (not off the courtyard but through a set of doors) is a refectory which doubles as a gift shop. Through this same doorway there is a stairway that leads to the friar’s “dormitory”, a series of 44 cells. Each friar had his own cell, and each cell contains a simple painting by Fra Angelico or members of his workshop. These austerely simple works make an interesting comparison to the more public, decorative panel paintings housed below. On this floor, in the opposite direction from the cells, don’t miss the library designed by Michelozzo, and the cell at the far end which belonged to Cosimo de’ Medici himself, patron of the entire complex.

Arttrav offers a podcast of san marco to lead you through these spaces.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 8.15-13.50; Saturday: 8.15-18.50; every second Sunday: 8.15-19.00. Admission 4 euros. Located in Piazza san Marco.

Florence Duomo: free podcast

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:00:58 +0000

Podcast describing the history of piazza duomo in Florence.
Dowload the pdf text here (with a diagram of the piazza and its major monuments).

Podcast: Convent of San Marco in Florence

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:02:46 +0000

The following is a free podcast that leads you through the conventual spaces of San Marco in Florence, with paintings by Fra Angelico (1450s-60).

Uffizi guide podcast: International Gothic (3)

admin — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:00:52 +0000

This series of free podcasts about the UFFIZI gallery in Florence was designed with young viewers in mind, but should be handy for adults too. This is the third part with a presentation of the next room you encounter in the museum after Giotto. This room contains important altarpieces from the International Gothic period (14-teens and 20s). We examine the bright colours and innovations of Gentile da Fabriano and Lorenzo Monaco.

You can read the text of this podcast by downloading the pdf file.

If you’re at home and want some visual aids while you listen, you can watch the powerpoint presentation video by clicking here.

Uffizi guide podcast: Giotto room (2)

admin — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:45:38 +0000

This series of free podcasts about the UFFIZI gallery in Florence was designed with young viewers in mind, but should be handy for adults too. This is the Second Part with a discussion of the first room you enter off the hallway. This room features a large enthroned Madonna by Giotto in the center, and similar shaped works by Duccio and Cimabue. The podcasts compares these works.

Uffizi guide podcast: Intro

admin — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:21:32 +0000

This series of free podcasts about the UFFIZI gallery in Florence was designed with young viewers in mind, but should be handy for adults too. This is the First Part with an introduction to the museum.

Piazza Signoria podcast

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 11:05:12 +0000

This piazza is the political heart of Florence, and also an important location for public sculpture. With this podcast you’ll learn what the piazza looked like around 1290 and how it evolved right through the sixteenth century and beyond.