Chiesa di San Paolino

Why is this Chiesa di San Paolino’s facade so simple? We are standing before a church that holds centuries of Florentine history within its walls. The Chiesa di San Paolino may appear unassuming from the outside. But its story is anything but. A church has stood on this site since as early as the 4th century. It was initially dedicated to the Conversion of St. Paul. The Chiesa di San Paolino has seen numerous transformations over the centuries. It was rebuilt in the Romanesque style between the 10th and 11th centuries. Later, it underwent a Gothic makeover in the 13th century. The church we see today is largely the result of a major reconstruction that took place in the 17th century. The Franciscan Observant Minorites, followed by the Discalced Carmelite order, spearheaded this transformation. Interestingly, during the rebuilding, they decided to rotate the entire church by 90 degrees! This explains the somewhat unfinished appearance of the facade. The Chiesa di San Paolino’s interior is where its beauty truly shines. It boasts a baroque style. You’ll find an impressive single nave with side chapels and a magnificent dome. While the exterior may not shout its history, the Chiesa di San Paolino holds a silent conversation with those who pause to listen.