What secrets lie behind a name like “Porta della Mandorla”? We’re standing before this grand doorway on the north side of the Duomo, a testament to Florence’s transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance. The name itself, “Door of the Almond,” hints at the stunning relief you see in the tympanum above. There, sculpted by the masterful Nanni di Banco, the Virgin Mary ascends to heaven, enveloped in a radiant almond-shaped halo, a classic motif of the Gothic period. But look closer—notice the figures intertwined with the doorway’s decorative foliage. These nudes, sculpted with a realism borrowed from Classical art, were unheard of in Florence at the time. They embody the burgeoning spirit of the Renaissance, a rediscovery of ancient ideals. One figure, an “Apollo with a Viola,” seems to detach from the stone, while a powerful “Hercules with a Lion” embodies classical sculptural form. The Porta della Mandorla stands as a beautiful paradox, a testament to the past and a glimpse into the future, where Gothic tradition meets the dawn of the Renaissance.
Santa Lucia alla Castellina
“A sanctuary of art and faith””. You might say that about many places, but here at Santa Lucia alla Castellina,