San Martino del Vescovo

The little church of San Martino al Vescovo, founded in 986, just a decade before the nearby Badia, is traditionally thought to be the place where Dante Alighieri married Gemma Donati. The ancient church of San Martino, whose only remaining traces are visible in Via del Canto alla Quarconia, was patronized by families living in the area, including the Donati and the Alighieri. In fact, the Casa di Dante is only a few steps away from this building.

In 1479, the structure was acquired by the Compagnia dei Dodici Buonomini, a confraternity founded by Sant’Antonino Pierozzi in 1441 and made up of twelve men who were responsible for helping the “poveri vergognosi” (“shameful poor”). In other words, they assisted noblemen and merchants who had fallen into disgraceful indigence either because of political clashes or because of the failure of their business and who, on account of their social status, would never have begged for money in public.

Inside the church is a series of frescoes (variously attributed) that illustrate and encourage good works. The confraternity continues to meet secretly to this day in order to help a similar group of needy citizens. Requests for help are written on paper and slipped through the small slot placed for this specific purpose on the outside wall of the church.

Above: fresco depicting a man paying to free an inmate from debtor’s prison (probably the Stinche)