Full text: Volume (1)

452 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA. 
HE Dominican Convent of Santa Maria Novella was at 
one time, with the exception of the other Dominican 
Convent of San Marco, the most important religious institution 
in Florence. A small church, built in the ninth century by 
the family of Tornaquinci, stood on the ground occupied by 
the transepts of the present beautiful edifice. The principal 
entrance was in the Piazza Vecchia, beyond the Bacchiera 
gate, or postern, in the second circuit of walls, which was 
situated where the Via de’ Banchi and the Via Panzani meet- 
a corner since known as the Canto de’ Carnesecchi. This 
church was called Santa Maria tra le Vigne—Santa Maria 
among the Vines—until the tenth century, when it was enlarged 
by the canons of the Florentine Cathedral, and the name was 
changed to Santa Maria Novella. It was about the year 1219 
that St. Dominic sent a certain Giovanni da Salerno, or, as he 
was afterwards called, the Beato Giovanni, with twelve other 
Dominican friars, to introduce his Order into Florence. They 
first lodged in the Hospital for Pilgrims outside the Porta San 
Gallo ; but when St. Dominic himself arrived there in 1221, 
the Papal Legate and the Bishop of Florence assigned the 
Church of Santa Maria Novella, as well as the adjacent land, 
to the Dominicans, on which they raised their monastery. 
They immediately commenced building, and the first stone of 
the new church was laid by the Legate, Cardinal Latino degl
	        
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