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Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri

The church of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano was commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici from Giorgio Vasari, who rebuilt it from 1563, and the bell tower, finished in 1572, is also his. Vasari died before the white marble façade was raised, which Don Giovanni de' Medici designed afterwards, drawing in part on the initial idea. The wooden ceiling, from the early 17th century, has six panels with episodes from the history of the Order. Inside are preserved two original monumental altarpieces, the Stoning of St Stephen by Vasari and the Nativity by Bronzino, and two organs beside the apse, one from the late 16th century and the other from the 18th. Banners and lanterns captured in the knights' naval campaigns hang from the naves. It is on the Piazza dei Cavalieri, next to the Carovana.

Things to do at Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri: 4 missions

• Look at the church's white marble facadeFrom the square, look at the facade designed by Don Giovanni de' Medici after Vasari's death and notice the large coat of arms of the Order.
• Find the naval banners and lanternsInside, find the banners and lanterns taken in the knights' naval campaigns, hung in the naves.
• Look at the Order's wooden ceilingIf the church is open, look up at the early 17th-century wooden ceiling and count its six panels with episodes of the Order.
• Find the bell tower designed by VasariLook for the church's bell tower, finished in 1572 to a design by Vasari, and place it in relation to the facade.

Near Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri

Source: Web oficial - Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri