The Infamous Savonarola in Florence

Michelangelo lived during a tumultuous time politically. When he was a young man in Florence, the people were finally embracing their pagan Roman past by incorporating its best parts into their Christian present. 🖼This they called the Humanist movement.

At this same time a Dominican friar, named Savonarola, creates a huge upset by convincing the people nothing good can come from anything pagan. 🤔 He and his band of young men force Florence to purge of any remaining pagan artwork, books, poems, and statues in a series of bonfires called the Bonfire of the Vanities. 🔥 🔥 

Savonarola eventually becomes the ruler is Florence but this is short lived as is crazy dictatorship catches the attention of the pope, which leads to his execution. 🤴 We visited visit San Marco and saw Savonarolla’s quarters, they even have his clothes!

Becca