Buildings

S. Giovannino detto la Calza

An oratory and hospital dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and under the care of the Knights Hospitaller (Ordine Gerosolimitano) was founded by Bindo di Lapo Benini prior to 1373 (Richa, 9: 97). In his testament dated 14 February 1374, Benini left additional funds for its expansion and upkeep. The only memorials described by Stefano Rosselli in his sepoltuario adorned the main door's architrave with three coats of arms honoring the first residents and patrons of the church.

According to Rosselli, a group of nuns of the Order of San Giovanni Gerosolimitano were given the Ospedale di San Giovanni Battista for use as their convent in 1392, where they remained until 1530. A group of Jesuate friars then took up residence at this Oltrarno church because their convent of San Giusto alle Mura outside of the Porta a Pinti gate was destroyed during the siege of Florence. Rosselli noted that there was not much in the church worth consideration save four paintings brought from San Giusto to adorn the altars of the Jesuates' new church, which came to be known as San Giovanni Battista (or San Giovannino) della Calza in reference to the habit worn by the friars. These pictures are now in the Uffizi.

Giuseppe Richa indicates that the community changed hands in 1672 and again in 1680 when the Congregazione de'Sacerdoti di S. Salvadore all'Arcivescovado purchased the church.