Instituto degli Innocenti, otherwise referred to as Spedale degli Innocenti (Institute/Hospital of the Innocents) is highly significant for the architectural trajectory of Florence since it marks the beginning of the Renaissance architecture in the capital of Tuscany. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and built between 1421 and 1434, and it consists of three structures: Galleria dello Spedale degli Innocenti, a Loggia and the Church of Santa Maria degli Innocenti. Thus, the Gallery features certain works pertaining to Giovanni del Biondo, Benedetto da Maiano, Rossellino, with a special emphasis on the works of Luca della Robbia, Andrea del Sarto and Ghirlandaio.

The artistic products as such are complemented by certain miniatures and pieces of furniture ranging between the 14th to the 18th century. The most spectacular architectural element of the Spedale refers to its second structure, namely, the Loggia, consisting chiefly of arcades of beautifully coherent columns complemented by several frescoes and by ten decorative elements, that is, ten medallions pertaining to the same Luca della Robbia. Lucca della Robbia is, again, the one who has designed and created the Annunciation in the lunette of the Church of Santa Maria degli Innocenti which, for that matter, adjoins with a cloister conceived by Brunelleschi, the chief architect of the entire complex of the innocents.

Name:
Instituto degli Innocenti
Address:
12 Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Florence
Telephone:
0039 (0) 55 249 1708
Website:
www.istitutodeglinnocenti.it