Together with Santa Croce, San Lorenzo and Santo Spirito, it is one of the “great basilicas” of Florence, a reference point of the Dominican order. Its foundation dates back to the end of the 13th century, but construction works would go on for centuries. This is the reason why the church, with its elegant façade by Leon Battista Alberti, is a harmonious synthesis of Gothic and Renaissance styles. The church of Santa Maria Novella hosts exceptional works of art by Masaccio, Giotto, Brunelleschi, Filippino Lippi, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Paolo Uccello.