Built in the 14th century as a grain market, Orsanmichele was later converted into a church. Each of Florence’s powerful trade guilds was commissioned to provide a statue of its patron saint to fill the niches in the exterior walls, which now hold replicas; most of the originals are housed in the museum upstairs, where you can also see the building’s Gothic wooden vaulting and decorative brickwork. The fresco-bedecked interior holds two treasures: an ornate marble tabernacle by Andrea Orcagna and aMadonna and Child by Bernardo Daddi, believed to have healing powers.
Orsanmichele Church and Museum is located in the heart of Florence's historic center and included in many walking or Segway city tours along with skip-the-line access to the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, and Duomo.