Museo del Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia

About the museum

The Cenacolo is part of the former Benedictine monastery of Sant'Apollonia, the largest women's monastery in Florence, founded in 1339. After works promoted in 1440 by the abbess Cecilia Donati, the large rectangular hall with a coffered ceiling, which served as the refectory, was frescoed over an entire wall by Andrea del Castagno in 1447.

The lower part of the wall is occupied by the Last Supper, set in a richly decorated space and worked out in every detail, with a rigorous perspective structure accentuated by the geometric lines of the floor and ceiling. Above it are the Resurrection, the Crucifixion and the Deposition in the tomb, detached in 1953 for conservation reasons; their sinopie (preparatory underdrawings) are displayed on the opposite wall.

The room also holds the few surviving remains of the frescoes and sinopie of the Storie della Vergine (Stories of the Virgin), once in the church of Sant'Egidio and a key work of the early Florentine Renaissance, painted by Domenico Veneziano with the help of Alesso Baldovinetti, Piero della Francesca and Andrea del Castagno himself. Other works by Castagno from the mid-15th century can also be seen, including a lunette with Christ in pietà among angels, a Crucifixion and the sinopia of the Vision of Saint Jerome, as well as a crucifix attributed to Baccio da Montelupo. In the anteroom (antirefettorio) are a detached fresco of the Crucifixion by Paolo Schiavo and two panels by Neri di Bicci.

Highlights

• Last Supper by Andrea del Castagno (1447)
• Resurrection, Crucifixion and Deposition with their sinopie
• Remains of the Storie della Vergine by Domenico Veneziano
• Lunette with Christ in pietà among angels by Castagno
• Panels by Neri di Bicci and fresco by Paolo Schiavo in the anteroom

Permanent exhibition

• Cenacolo di Andrea del Castagno – The Last Supper and other works by Castagno in the former refectory, with sinopie and remains of the Storie della Vergine.

Founded

1339

Operated by

Direzione regionale Musei nazionali della Toscana (Ministero della Cultura)

Visitors per year

approx. 16,527

Admission & discounts

Reductions and free admission follow the legal rules for state museums. The ticket can also be bought with the 18app culture bonus and online; bookings via the toll-free number 800 615 615.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is at via XXVII Aprile 1, in Florence.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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