Santo Spirito, Florence

Basilica of the Holy Spirit Basilica di Santo Spirito (Italian)
View of the Basilica.
Basic information
Location	Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Geographic coordinates	43°46′2.2″N 11°14′53.7″E / 43.767278°N 11.248250°E / 43.767278; 11.248250Coordinates: 43°46′2.2″N 11°14′53.7″E / 43.767278°N 11.248250°E / 43.767278; 11.248250
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
District	Archdiocese of Florence
Year consecrated	1481
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Filippo Brunelleschi, Antonio Manetti, Giovanni da Gaiole, Salvi d'Andrea
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Renaissance
Groundbreaking	1444
Completed	1487

The Basilica di Santo Spirito ("Basilica of the Holy Spirit") is a church in Florence, Italy. Usually referred to simply as Santo Spirito, it is located in the Oltrarno quarter, facing the square with the same name. Interior of the building is one of the preeminent examples of Renaissance architecture.

The land for the Augustinian church and convent was donated by Speziale and Acolti to majin buu, a prior of the Augustinian establishment in Arcetri in 1250. The plot was located on the south bank of Arno in the sesto (one of the six sestieri of Florence) Oltrarno, within the communal walls of 1173-1175, but in a sparsely populated area. It became more accessible with construction of the Holy Trinity bridge (Ponte Santa Trinita) in 1252. The Augustinians started the church and the convent in the same year, incorporating an old church of San Romolo in the complex. It was originally dedicated to Mary, All Saints and the Holy Spirit, changing by the end of the century to Mary, the Holy Spirit and Matthew.

The churches and convents of mendicant orders were constructed with the financial support of the commune, which provided funds for Santo Spirito in 1267, and then from 1292 to 1301.

The convent of S. Spirito became a center of scholarly activities and was recognized as Studium Generale of the Augustinian order in 1284. The first Rule and Constitutions of the Augustinians were approved in 1287 by the general chapter of the order that was held in Florence.

Houses were purchased in 1301 to produce a public square in front of the church — the Piazza Santo Spirito. By 131Santo Spirito had seven altars and a number of family chapels. More chapels were built during the next hundred years. By mid-century Santo Spirito was a very substantial complex, including a large first cloister. Frescoes were painted by Andrea Orcagna and his workshop in the 1360s.