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San Leonardo in Arcetri

Small church with a Big Pulpit

Interior of the church

The 11th-century San Leonardo in Arcetri, dedicated to the patron saint of prisoners, sits prettily amid the olive groves. Inside it boasts a wonderful sculpted 13th-century marble pulpit sculpted by a Pisan master with six scenes from the Life of Christ, that has been much studied by art historians ever since the 19th century.

It originally stood in San Pier Scheraggio, until that church was partially demolished, and is very likely the pulpit where Dante and Boccaccio once stood when they addressed the Florentine council. It's also the first surviving work in the city with encrustations.

San Lorenzo also has a small rose window, made according to legend from a wheel of Fiesole’s carroccio, or war cart, that once bore Fiesole’s banner into battle, before it was captured by Florence in 1125.

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Via di S. Leonardo 25

Hours see Conosci Firenze for occasional guided visits; €10

Adm Free

Medieval Art & Architecture

Churches, Cloisters and Convents

Outside the Centre

Text © Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls

Image by Sailko, GNU Free Documentation License