What are the oldest churches in Florence, Italy?

Florence is home to several ancient houses of worship, with structures like Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of San Lorenzo recognized among its oldest extant churches. San Lorenzo claims great antiquity, having been consecrated in 393 AD when it stood outside the city walls. Before the bishop's seat transferred to Santa Reparata, San Lorenzo served as the city's cathedral for three centuries.

What we know

• Santa Maria Maggiore di Firenze is identified among the oldest extant churches in Florence. [3]
• The Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of several churches in Florence that claim to be the oldest in the city. [4]
• The Basilica of San Lorenzo was consecrated in 393 AD, at which time it stood outside the city walls. [4]
• San Lorenzo served as the cathedral of Florence for three hundred years before the official seat of the bishop was transferred to Santa Reparata. [4]

Where to go next

• whoWho were the Medici family members buried in San Lorenzo?
• how it workedHow did Filippo Brunelleschi redesign the Basilica of San Lorenzo?
• whenWhat historical role did Santa Reparata play as Florence's cathedral?
• how we knowWhat are the key architectural features of Santa Maria Maggiore in Florence?
• the bigger pictureHow does the religious history of Florence fit into broader Italian religion?
• an unexpected connectionHow did an ancient Romanesque church connect to Michelangelo and Donatello?The Basilica of San Lorenzo, one of Florence's oldest claiming churches, houses artistic masterpieces created by renowned figures like Michelangelo and Donatello within its monastic complex.

Sources

• [1]Florence (Wikidata Q2044) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Florence · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Santa Maria Maggiore, Florence · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Religion in Italy · CC BY-SA 4.0