Bigallo

In 1240, the bishops of Florence, together with the Dominicans of Santa Maria Novella, were enraged that some of Florence’s most influential families had become thoroughly infected by Catharism. They officially announced an inquisition and began violent persecutions against the heretics. The torture was so awful that many of the fearful formed small militias, locked themselves in their towers or even struck back with murder and the desecration of altars. One of the flashpoints was the church of San Jacopo di Campo Corbolini on Via Faenza (pictured below), which passed to the Knights Templar in 1256.

Peter of Verona, founder of the Misericordia confraternity, took over the Florentine inquisition in 1243 and established a lay organization called the Captains of Saint Mary, with whose help he eventually overcame the Cathar threat.  At that point, the Captains needed a new task, so they accepted the patronage of a hospital five miles (8km) away called Santa Maria del Bigallo. They had no fixed structure of their own until 1352 when they received from the city government a building on the corner of Via dei Calzaiuoli and Via Orsanmichele. In 1445, they joined the Confraternity of the Misericordia at this location.

In Dante’s day, there was in place of this gothic loggia a very tall tower belonging to the Adimari family that was locally called the Guardamorto (Guardian of the Dead) because the area between the Baptistry and this building used to be a cemetery. When the Ghibellines decided to knock down the 20-story tower of the Adimari family in 1248, it barely missed falling on the Baptistry, some say by plan and others say thanks to John the Baptist who miraculously appeared in order to protect his church. 

Just a few steps from here toward the Arno, you’ll find to your right a plaque memorializing the Adimari family (above), who owned this entire block. 

Escutcheon of the Captains of Saint Mary of the Bigallo

The Company of the Bigallo eventually added other responsibilities to their mission, including most notably the care of foundlings who were left in this loggia.

Coat of arms of the Adimari family