SAN LORENZO, Interior

After the bare, rustic façade, the interior of San Lorenzo will give you quite a thrill. A bright structure inspired by classic antiquity opens up before you; it is one of the most representative monuments of the "golden age" of 15th-century Florence.

The ingenious architect Filippo Brunelleschi designed a profoundly harmonious building, where the white plaster alternates with the gray of the Serena stone, one of his favorite materials. Note the elegance of the two rows of columns, paneled ceiling, arches, and tall windows that illuminate the central part of the basilica. Carefully observe the exceptional sophistication of the sculpted elements, like the capitals that look like baskets of foliage and were inspired by the ancient Greek architectural style known as "Corinthian", or the frames around the chapels that appear regularly on both sides.

There are countless fascinating works of art throughout, making San Lorenzo a true museum of fourteenth-fifteenth century Florentine sculpture and painting. I'd especially like to point out the beautiful Annunciation painted by Filippo Lippi that you can see in a chapel at the back left, and near there, the great fresco of Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo. Another interesting painting is the Marriage of the Virgin by Rosso Fiorentino on the second altar to the right....