Oratorio Santi Jacopo e Filippo

Nestled within the bustling city of Florence, the Oratorio dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo whispers tales of charity and transformation. This unassuming sanctuary, tucked away on Via della Scala, holds a captivating history. The Oratorio dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo wasn’t always a place of quiet contemplation. It was once part of the Spedale di Michi, a hospital established in the late 13th century. This hospital occupied half a city block. Imagine the hustle and bustle of patients and caregivers within these very walls. In 1504, the hospital closed its doors. But the story doesn’t end there. By 1589, the building began sheltering “honest and poor girls”. It later transformed into the Convent of the Nuns of Charity, also known as the Stabilite. The Oratorio dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo underwent a significant expansion in 1626. Architect Matteo Nigetti reconstructed the church. Inside, artist Cosimo Ulivelli adorned the walls with a breathtaking fresco cycle. This cycle, depicting the Works of Charity, offers a vibrant glimpse into the spirit of compassion that permeated this place. Sadly, the Oratorio dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo faced suppression in 1808. The complex became incorporated into Palazzo Grassi, now a hotel. Part of it was entrusted to the Compagnia della Santissima Concezione. Here, they established a new hospital called dei Barelloni. The name, meaning “stretcher bearers,” came from the brothers’ practice of transporting the sick on stretchers instead of the baskets used by the Misericordia. Today, the Oratorio dei Santi Jacopo e Filippo serves as the Tuscan headquarters of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a fitting continuation of its history of service and devotion.