Via della Chiesa, which ran from Piazza Torquato Tasso to via delle Caldaie, and via di Sitornino, which ran from via delle Caldaie to Borgo Tolagolaio, were the previous names for the present Via della Chiesa. It was once thought that there might have been a Roman temple devoted to the god Saturn in this region. However, it was verified that the territory was named after this ancient Roman Florentian citizen when a tomb slab honoring Aulo Nevio Saturnino was discovered.
“Principles of the Christian religion in Florence” by Domenico Maria Manni, a Florentine scholar, describes the inscription on the burial slab: D.M. A.NAEVI SATURNINI QUI. ANTE TITULUM. HUNC SEPULTUS. EST PATRI. OPTIMO A. NAEVIUS MARCELLENUS. After the French suppressed the church and the convent, the two routes were merged under the common name via della Chiesa at the start of the nineteenth century. If you want know more about the city of Florence come with us we are running a free walking tour of Florence.
