Maria Maddalena de' Medici
Encyclopedia
Maria Maddalena de' Medici (29 June 1600 – 28 December 1633) was an Tuscan princess, the eighth daughter of Ferdinando I
and Christina of Lorraine
, making her the sister of Cosimo II
.
), though she never took the monastic vows, and on her death at only 33 she was buried there.
Maria Maddalena had difficulties climbing stairs, and so the rooms built for her at the monastery by the architect Giulio Parigi
consisted of a series of raised passages above street level across which she could move without use of stairs and, above all, without any need to cross the street and expose herself to public gaze. Today four arches of one of these passages remain, one opposite the Ospedale degli Innocenti
, one above via della Pergola, one above via Laura (to reach another monastery), and one into the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
(where, sitting in a small chamber at the end of the passage, she was administered the mass through a grate in the left wall of the nave). In the Palazzo della Crocetta was a similar, long elevated corridor, called the corridoio mediceo, which Maddalena used to move amongst the remaining first floor rooms. This corridor was reminiscent of the Vasariano
.
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.-Biography:...
and Christina of Lorraine
Christina, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
Christina of Lorraine or Chretienne de Lorraine was a member of the House of Lorraine and was the Grand Duchess of Tuscany by marriage...
, making her the sister of Cosimo II
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children....
.
Life
Born disfigured or perhaps mentally retarded, she was only christened aged nine. On May 24, 1621 she entered the Convento della Crocetta (Convent of the Cross, now the National Archaeological MuseumNational Archaeological Museum (Florence)
The National Archaeological Museum of Florence is an archaeological museum in Florence, Italy...
), though she never took the monastic vows, and on her death at only 33 she was buried there.
Maria Maddalena had difficulties climbing stairs, and so the rooms built for her at the monastery by the architect Giulio Parigi
Giulio Parigi
Giulio Parigi was an Italian architect and designer. He was the main member of a family of architects and designers working for the Grand Ducal court of the Medici...
consisted of a series of raised passages above street level across which she could move without use of stairs and, above all, without any need to cross the street and expose herself to public gaze. Today four arches of one of these passages remain, one opposite the Ospedale degli Innocenti
Ospedale degli Innocenti
The Ospedale degli Innocenti is a historical building in Florence, central Italy. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419, it was originally a children's orphanage. It is regarded as a notable example of early Italian Renaissance architecture...
, one above via della Pergola, one above via Laura (to reach another monastery), and one into the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
Basilica della Santissima Annunziata di Firenze
The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Florence, Italy, the mother church of the Servite order. It is located at the northeastern side of the Piazza Santissima Annunziata....
(where, sitting in a small chamber at the end of the passage, she was administered the mass through a grate in the left wall of the nave). In the Palazzo della Crocetta was a similar, long elevated corridor, called the corridoio mediceo, which Maddalena used to move amongst the remaining first floor rooms. This corridor was reminiscent of the Vasariano
Vasari Corridor
The Vasari Corridor is an elevated enclosed passageway in Florence, central Italy, which connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti. Beginning on the south side of the Palazzo Vecchio, it then joins the Uffizi Gallery and leaves on its south side, crossing the Lungarno dei Archibusieri...
.