Florence art: Rucellai Chapel open to visitors

Rucellai Chapel of Florence (or Temple of Saint Sepulchre) will be open to visitors from December 2012; architectural masterpiece of Renaissance, realized by Leon Battista Alberti, conserves “sacello del Santo Sepolcro” and it will enrich Marino Martini Museum’s offer.

The temple is a funeral memorial inside Saint Sepulchre Chapel and it is the last consecrated part of ex-Saint Patrick church; it preserve the remains of Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai, Italian merchant, writer and humanist.

The architecture of this jewel of Renaissance is really unique: design is inspired by Saint Sepulchre of Jerusalem, but with some classical elements. The map is rectangular and based on golden section; walls are marked by Corinthian columns and decorated with marble marquetry. Internal, the temple is decorated with two fresco paintings by Giovanni da Piamonte. The beauty of this memorial was reinstate by a restoration and cleaning operated by Martini Foundation.

Florence, universally known as artistic and cultural centre and one of the most fascinating cities of the world, it’s the perfect place to spend a winter rich of colours, booking in the historical center of the Cradle of Renaissance with Ars Hotels.