Visitors to the Brancacci Chapel Can Now Explore Sala Vanni

A new area of Florence’s historic Carmine complex will open to the public this summer. From 7 June to 31 August, visitors to the Brancacci Chapel will also be able to access Sala Vanni, the former 17th-century refectory of the Carmelite convent, thanks to a collaboration between the City of Florence, the Florentine Civic Museums and the cultural association Musicus Concentus.

The opening follows the recent addition of the Sala della Colonna to the visitor route earlier this year and forms part of a broader effort to make more of the Carmine complex accessible to the public.

The initiative will be launched on Sunday, 7 June, during Domenica Metropolitana, the monthly programme that allows residents of the Metropolitan City of Florence to visit Florence’s civic museums free of charge and take part in cultural activities organised by local institutions.

A historic convent refectory

Overlooking the convent cloister and extending along much of one side of the complex, Sala Vanni served as the principal dining hall for the Carmelite community. It was built in the mid-17th century to replace an older refectory, now known as the Sala del Cenacolo.

The hall takes its name from painter Giovan Battista Vanni (1599–1660), whose monumental fresco Christ at the House of Simon the Pharisee dominates one wall. The work is considered one of the most important surviving examples of the 17th-century decoration of the Carmine complex.

Medieval frescoes from the Nerli Chapel

Visitors will also be able to see a group of detached frescoes originating from the Chapel of the Passion, also known as the Nerli Chapel, inside the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine.

The paintings, attributed to the early 15th-century artist Lippo d’Andrea, formed part of a cycle illustrating scenes from the Passion of Christ. Long concealed within later masonry alterations, they were rediscovered and recovered during restoration campaigns in the 1930s.

Among the works on display are a large Crucifixion with its preparatory sinopia, a Flagellation of Christ, fragments of a Last Supper, and several saintly figures, including an important depiction of Saint Cyril.

Extended visitor route

According to Florence’s Councillor for Culture Giovanni Bettarini, the opening is intended to enrich the visitor experience and highlight a part of the Carmine complex that is normally inaccessible.

Throughout the summer, Sala Vanni will be included in the standard admission route to the Brancacci Chapel, one of Florence’s most important Renaissance sites, famous for the fresco cycle by Masaccio, Masolino and Filippino Lippi.

Practical information

Sala Vanni
Carmine Complex, Florence

Opening period: 7 June – 31 August 2026

Opening hours: Same days and times as the Brancacci Chapel

Admission: Included with entry to the Brancacci Chapel

Special opening: Sunday, 7 June, during Domenica Metropolitana, with free admission for residents of the Metropolitan City of Florence.

❤️ Support Florence Daily News

If you liked this article, please consider supporting Florence Daily News.

We are an independent news site, free from paywalls and intrusive ads, committed to providing clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your support — whether a one-time gift or a regular contribution — helps us stay independent and keep telling the stories that matter.

Donate securely via Stripe below.