Ex Chiesa del Tau
Former 14th-century church of the Tau order in Pistoia, with a fresco cycle by Niccolò di Tommaso and large sculptures by Marino Marini; free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The convent with the church of Sant'Antonio Abate, known as the Tau church after the blue Greek letter the friars wore sewn onto their habit, was founded in the mid-14th century at the wish of Fra Giovanni Guidotti, in the parish territory of San Giovanni Fuorcivitas in Pistoia. The saint, patron of animals and of many rural activities, was the emblem of the order, which was known for treating illnesses linked to “St Anthony's fire”.
After the suppression of the order in 1774 the building was sold to private owners, who divided it into flats; only in the 1980s was the convent restored and returned to its original layout. The complex comprises the covered garden, the convent with the cloister, and the church with the crypt: a single nave of three bays with a cross vault and raised presbytery, built in pietra forte (a local sandstone), a unique case in the city.
The walls of the church are covered by a fresco cycle of 1372 by the Florentine Niccolò di Tommaso, with the collaboration of the Pistoian Antonio Vite, close to the manner of the school of Orcagna, with scenes from the Old and New Testaments and from the life of Sant'Antonio Abate. Since 1990 the adjoining Palazzo del Tau has housed the Fondazione Marino Marini; the church displays some monumental works by the artist, including Il Miracolo, Il Cavaliere and Il grande grido.
Highlights
- Fresco cycle by Niccolò di Tommaso from 1372
- Monumental works by Marino Marini, including Il Miracolo and Il Cavaliere
- Crypt with sail vaults on a central pillar
- Church in pietra forte, a unique example in the city
- Cloister and covered garden of the convent
Permanent exhibition
- Affreschi del Trecento e opere di Marino Marini – The church with the fresco cycle of 1372 also houses large sculptures by Marino Marini, such as Il Miracolo and Il Cavaliere.
- Founded
- 1361
- Operated by
- Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Toscana (Ministero della Cultura)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 9,546
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Telephone bookings on +39 0573 24212 from 8:30 to 13:30. |
|---|
