Italy, Florence, Orsanmichele church

Orsanmichele in Florence, originally a grain market, was transformed into a church for craft and trade guilds. The building features 13th-century arches and was adorned with statues of patron saints. Inside, notable artworks include Andrea Orcagna's tabernacle and Bernardo Daddi's Madonna and Child. The original sculptures have been replaced with copies to protect them, with the originals housed in the Museum of Orsanmichele. The museum is open on Mondays, and some works by Donatello are in other Florentine museums. The facades have niches filled with costly bronze figures, reflecting the guilds' pride and competition.

What was the original purpose of the Orsanmichele building in Florence?

• A monastery

• A municipal office

• A grain market

• A church

Which group was responsible for commissioning statues for the Orsanmichele church?

• Florence's craft and trade guilds

• The church clergy

• The local government

• The city's nobility

Where are the original sculptures from Orsanmichele now located?

• In the church

• In museums

• In the city square

• In private collections

What material did the richest guilds choose for their statues?

• Granite

• Bronze

• Wood

• Marble

What is currently happening to the statues in the niches of Orsanmichele?

• They are being restored and moved to a museum

• They are being left to weather naturally

• They are being replaced with new designs

• They are being sold to collectors