San Marco, Florence facts for kids

San Marco, Florence

St. Mark's (or San Marco) is a famous church and convent in Florence, Italy. It was once home to Dominican friars. Today, it also has the Museum of St. Mark. This museum shows many beautiful paintings, especially by the artist Fra Angelico.

History of St. Mark's

Building the Convent

The Dominican Convent of St. Mark's started in the early 1400s. The first leader, called a "prior," was St. Antoninus of Florence.

A famous painter named Fra Angelico was one of the first Dominican friars to live and work here. He later became the prior himself.

The land for the convent was given to the friars by Cosimo Medici. The monks lived in small rooms called "cells." Cosimo even had a cell built for himself. He would stay there sometimes.

Between 1447 and 1452, Cosimo asked his favorite architect, Michelozzo, to build a large new library. Michelozzo also improved other parts of the building. Later, in the late 1700s, the front of the building was rebuilt in a classic style.

Girolamo Savonarola's Time

In 1490, a famous Dominican friar named Savonarola became the prior of St. Mark's. He lived in the cell that once belonged to Cosimo Medici.

Savonarola was a powerful preacher. He did not like Cosimo's grandson, Lorenzo Medici. Lorenzo was often called "Lorenzo the Magnificent." Savonarola thought Lorenzo had too much power and acted like a prince.

Savonarola preached against Lorenzo, against the Pope, and against the Roman Catholic Church. He told people that the end of the world was coming soon. Many people became scared or sad because of what he said.

Pope Alexander VI had Savonarola arrested. He was put to death in 1498. About 60 years later, the Church agreed that he had not said anything wrong.

Treasures of St. Mark's

The Library

The Library of St. Mark's holds many special illuminated manuscripts. These are books with beautiful, hand-painted decorations. Some of these decorations were probably made by Fra Angelico's brother, Benedetto. Some might even have been painted by Fra Angelico himself.

Famous Artworks

The Museum of St. Mark has a great collection of paintings by Fra Angelico. One of his most famous works is The Descent from the Cross. This painting shows the body of Jesus being taken down from the cross after he was crucified.

The convent also has many frescos by Fra Angelico. Frescoes are paintings made directly onto wet plaster walls. Fra Angelico decorated many walls, including a painting in each friar's cell.

Another famous fresco is The Last Supper. This painting is in the refectory, which was the dining room. It was painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio.

Other pages

• Florence Cathedral

Images for kids

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  Cloister in the convent of San Marco

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  The adoration of the Christ child, fresco by Beato Angelico in one of the monks' cells in the convent

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  Illustration from Compendio di revelatione, 1496, by Savonarola

See also

In Spanish: San Marcos (Florencia) para niños