Santo Spirito in Firenze in Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Tuscany, Italy — Southern and Western Europe (Mediterranean)
Piazza Santa Felicita
Late XIV century granite column with Corinthian capital. A small, glazed terracotta statue of St. Peter the Martyr was placed atop the column in 1484. The statue fell to the ground in August 1723 and was replaced by a marble sculpture that disappeared during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Today, only the column remains. It was raised as an offering of thanks for the 1244 victory over the Patarine Heretics by the Knights of Santa Maria (known as "La Società di Santa Maria). Peter (1205 circa -1252) was a Dominican friar born in Verona and is remembered for his tenacious opposition to heresy. He was sent to Florence in 1244 by the pope. He stayed in Santa Maria Novella and did a great deal of preaching in the piazza outside the church. He inflamed the Catholics and embittered the Paratines and led the armed battle between the two forces. The two days in which the heretics were defeated and forced to flee the city were known as the [day] "of Trebbio" and "of Santa Felicita (from the sites of the battles and where the commemorative columns still stand today) . The archbishop of Florence, St. Antoninus recounted the events in his "Chronicles." The column was severely damaged by the retreating German troops, in August 1944. It was later restored and put back in its place.
Erected by Città di Firenze.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, World II • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical year for this entry is 1484.
Location. 43° 46.027′ N, 11° 15.135′ E. Marker is in Firenze, Toscana (Tuscany), in Città Metropolitana di Firenze. It is in Santo Spirito. Marker is at the intersection of Via de' Guicciardini and Piazza Santa Felicita, on the right when traveling east on Via de' Guicciardini. The marker is located along the corner of the building near the column. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Via de' Guicciardini, 15, Firenze, Toscana 50125, Italy. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chiesa di Santa Felicita / Church of Saint Felicita (within shouting distance of this marker); Gerhard Wolf (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Ponte Vecchio / Old Bridge (about 150 meters away); Nicholas Roerich (about 180 meters away); Holy Trinity Bridge Reconstructed (about 240 meters away); Chiesa Anglicana di Saint Mark (St. Mark's Church) (about 240 meters away); Ponte Santa Trinita / Holy Trinity Bridge (about 240 meters away); Gio Pietro Vieusseux (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Firenze.
Also see . . . Column of Santa Felicita, Florence. Wikipedia
Putatively the column was erected to celebrate the 13th-century victories or crusades led by the Dominican friar Peter of Verona against the Cathar heresy in Northern Italy. In 1484, the capital had a terracotta statue Peter of Verona preaching, as he had to the Florentines and organizing his militia of the "Società di Santa Maria" used to persecute heretics. The column was financed by Amerigo De Rossi, whose ancestor was a follower of the Dominican preacher. There is some evidence that the column was erected earlier at the site of some former paleochristian tombs, and was surmounted by crosses.(Submitted on July 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.