One of the largest squares in the historical city center, Piazza Santa Maria Novella had to be enlarged several times in order to contain the crowds of people which came to hear the preaching of the Dominican monks who had settled there in 1221 and built a convent in this original 5 sided shape square.
The Dominican Basilica takes up one part of the square where the convent can be found along with the ancient Pharmacy. On the opposite side you will find the long loggia of what was once the hospital of San Paolo built between 1489 and 1496 as a replica of the Loggia degli Innocenti by Brunelleschi. On the right underneath the portico a polychrome terracotta lunette by Andrea della Robbia can be seen.
This lunette depicts a meeting between St. Francis and St. Dominic which is believed to have taken place here in 1221.
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