Santa Croce has long been known as one of Florence’s most famous churches, and it holds the remains of some of the most prestigious Florentines, including Michelangelo.
Recently, the Opera di Santa Croce has taken the initiative to restore the incredible Pazzi Chapel through a Kickstarter campaign. They more than surpassed their goal of raising enough money. Initially searching for $95,000 worth of donations, they managed to raise more than $100,000.
The best part? The donations raised are now going to restoring the chapel, so you can see it at its former glory.
The entrance to the Pazzi Chapel — Photo courtesy of MCAD Library
The Pazzi Chapel was designed by the architect Fillipo Brunelleschi for the illustrious Pazzi family in the early 1400s. It was originally a “chapter house” – a place where monks could study – and a meeting room for government officials.
Not only did the Pazzi family want to display their loyalty to Florence, but the building of this structure also represented the amount of wealth they had.
But like all buildings, even Renaissance wonders start to gather dirt and begin to crumble. Fortunately, the city of Florence has done an excellent job of trying to restore some of the architectural masterpieces in several ways, either through government funding or now through the Internet's fundraising website Kickstarter.
The recent Kickstarter campaign has allowed restorers to focus on the fading loggia, the part of the chapel that has suffered the most over the years. It's also one of the most beautiful parts of the structure, and visitors will soon be able to see it the way it was meant to be seen.
The facade of Santa Croce — Photo courtesy of Alex Schnee
The loggia is also one of the best examples of pietra serena sandstone throughout the city, and the Pazzi family spared no expense when the structure was originally built, in order to mark their power and influence – even going so far as to hire Florence's most famous architect.
So to restore the chapel is to restore a part of Renaissance Florence and to take a step back in time.
Two attempts have also been made in the past to make sure that the loggia and the chapel remain as well-preserved as possible for future generations to come and view, but this time the renovations will include a massive cleaning and more work done specifically to the loggia.
Now that the Kickstarter campaign is over, you will start to see some major changes if you choose to come to Florence over the next few years. The money provided from tourists and lovers of the city has really made a difference. It's certainly a treat for locals and tourists to the city to get a glimpse into the tedious restoration process of this architectural gem.
