Today the group was driven in vans about 8 kms up the hills north of Florence to the little city of Fiesole. We were granted a private viewing of the chapter house of the convent of San Domenico where Fra Angelico became a friar. It contains a fresco of the crucifixion by Fra Angelico.

We also went into the church but the Fra Angelico altarpiece has been moved to the exhibition.

San Domenico was established as a break off from Santa Maria Novella where the Domenican friars wanted to focus more on preaching than learning and to move out of the city. It was initially in the countryside just outside of Fiesole. A short but steep drive gets you into Fiesole.

There are no Fra Angelico paintings in Fiesole itself but there is Fiesole Cathedral

We looked in the Fiesole Museum which has ceramics from the Dalla Robbia workshop

And a variety of paintings. Below is a Madonna del Parto by Andrea di Cione di Arcangelo, known as Orcagna.

The big draw in Fiesole is the archaeological park with Roman ruins.

There are also remains of a Roman bath

Hazy view of Florence from the road between Florence and Fiesole

The doors of Santo Spirito were open. No photos allowed but went in to look at the crucifixion by Michelangelo, which resembles the Fra Angelico crucifixion with the slender Christ whose head is bowed forward.

Went into the cloister and looked into the refectory nuovo which has a last supper.

Did not see the door open to the old refectory which has the remains of a last supper by Orcagna. May have to return.