Temples & religious sites
Santo Spirito
What it is
Santo Spirito is a Renaissance church in the Oltrarno, on the south bank of the Arno. It's the work of Filippo Brunelleschi, though he died before it was finished and the building was completed with some changes to his original plan. The plain, unfinished facade gives no hint of the interior, which is a long colonnaded nave (97 metres) with a rhythm of grey stone columns against white walls, considered one of the clearer expressions of Renaissance church design. Inside there are chapels along the aisles with altarpieces and sculpture from various Florentine workshops. The square outside, Piazza Santo Spirito, has a more local, lived-in feel than the tourist streets across the river, with a small market some mornings and cafes around the edges.
Getting there
From the Duomo or Piazza della Signoria it's a walk of about 15-20 minutes, crossing the Arno via Ponte Vecchio or Ponte Santa Trinita and continuing into the Oltrarno streets. There's no metro in Florence, and buses run along nearby routes, but walking is generally the simplest option from the historic centre.
Time to allow
Plan on 30-45 minutes for the interior itself. If you also want to sit in the piazza or browse the market stalls when they're on, add another 30 minutes or so.
When to go
The church itself is far less crowded than the major sights on the other side of the river, since many visitors don't cross into the Oltrarno at all. The piazza gets livelier in the evening, when the bars and restaurants around it fill up with a mix of locals and students.
Combine it with
- Brancacci Chapel (0.3km) - known for its Masaccio frescoes, a short walk away.
- Santa Maria del Carmine (0.3km) - the church housing the Brancacci Chapel.
- Palazzo Pitti (0.3km) - the Medici's later residence, with several museums inside.
- Boboli Gardens (0.3km) - the formal gardens behind Palazzo Pitti, good for a longer walk.
All four are close enough to combine with Santo Spirito in a single Oltrarno-focused half day.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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