Florence - Church of the Annunciation Santissima Annunziata
Whereas the religious center of Florence is the Cathedral, and the heart of its politics is the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo della Signoria, the intellectual life of the city is adjudged, quite rightly, to focus on the church of Santissima Annunziata and its square, the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.
The church of the Annunziata, founded about 1250 as an oratory for the Servite Order and completely rebuilt between 1444 and 1481 by Michelozzo, is an architectural masterpiece, not least because of the unusual ground plan for the church and its cloisters (nave with side chapels, fronted by a large round choir chapel, plus additions); it also contains many superb works of art.
The church of the Annunziata, founded about 1250 as an oratory for the Servite Order and completely rebuilt between 1444 and 1481 by Michelozzo, is an architectural masterpiece, not least because of the unusual ground plan for the church and its cloisters (nave with side chapels, fronted by a large round choir chapel, plus additions); it also contains many superb works of art.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The entrance is under a seven-arched portico (1559-1561) supported by columns with elegant Corinthian capitals. Of the four doors, the one on the left leads into the Chiostro dei Morti (cloister of the dead), via the Sagrestia della Madonna. This cloister contains the fresco "Madonna del Sacco", so-called because of the bag St Joseph is leaning on, and a major work of Andrea del Sarto (1525). Adjoining it are the chapterhouse, the Cappella della Confraternità di San Luca, the "Chapel of the Crucified", the reliquary chapel and the sacristy.
The right-hand door leads into the Cappella Pucci or di San Sebastiano, both en route to the Chiostrino dei Voti (little cloister of the votive offerings), so-called because of the votive offerings hung here by the faithful, and built by Manetti (1447) to designs by Michelozzo.
The right-hand door leads into the Cappella Pucci or di San Sebastiano, both en route to the Chiostrino dei Voti (little cloister of the votive offerings), so-called because of the votive offerings hung here by the faithful, and built by Manetti (1447) to designs by Michelozzo.
Things to See
Chiostrino dei Voti
The frescoes in the Chiostrino dei Voti are famous. Beginning on the left, they include masterpieces by Andrea del Sarto (scenes from the life of St Filippo Benizzi"), Cosimo Rosselli ("Summoning and Robing of St Filippo Benizzi), Alesso Baldovinetto ("Nativity", 1460-1462), another two by Andrea del Sarto ("Coming of the Magi" and, one of the artist's best works, "Birth of the Virgin", 1514) and Franciabigi's "Marriage of the Virgin", 1513 - the artist destroyed the Virgin's head because the monks looked at the picture before it was finished, and no-one was prepared to repair the damage. Finally, there are also great works by Pontormo ("Visitation of Mary", 1516) and Rosso Fiorentino ("Assumption of the Virgin", 1517).
Interior
The interior of the Church of the Annunciation consists of a nave lined by chapels, with the choir in the form of a rotunda. The walls are clad with marble dating from the complete refurbishment in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Close to the entrance, on the left, is a small marble temple, commissioned from Michelozzo by Piero de'Medici for the miraculous picture of the Annunciation, copies of which can be found throughout Italy. It is said that in the 13th century the monk who was painting this fell asleep in a state of despair at his inability to create a truly beautiful Madonna, and an angel completed the Virgin's face as he slept. Florentine newly-weds still make their way here today for the bride to leave her bouquet with the Madonna.
On the left side of the nave is the Cappella Feroni containing a fresco by Andrea del Castagno, "Redeemer and St Julian" (1455).
There is another fresco by Castagno in the second chapel, his "Trinity", and one of his last highly realistic works. The fourth chapel has a panel by Perugino, "Ascension of Christ", which is worth seeing.
The rotunda, which is divided into nine chapels, was begun by Michelangelo (1444) and completed in a different style by Leon Battista Alberti. The fourth chapel from the left contains a painting by Angelo Bronzino, "Resurrection" (1550). The Cappella della Madonna del Soccorso (Madonna of Succour) was designed by Giambologna between 1594 and 1598 as his own tomb and is richly adorned with frescoes, statuary and reliefs.
In the dome is a fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin by Volterrano (1681-1683).
Just inside the first chapel is a lovely "Pietà" by Baccio Bandinelli who is buried here with his wife.
Close to the entrance, on the left, is a small marble temple, commissioned from Michelozzo by Piero de'Medici for the miraculous picture of the Annunciation, copies of which can be found throughout Italy. It is said that in the 13th century the monk who was painting this fell asleep in a state of despair at his inability to create a truly beautiful Madonna, and an angel completed the Virgin's face as he slept. Florentine newly-weds still make their way here today for the bride to leave her bouquet with the Madonna.
On the left side of the nave is the Cappella Feroni containing a fresco by Andrea del Castagno, "Redeemer and St Julian" (1455).
There is another fresco by Castagno in the second chapel, his "Trinity", and one of his last highly realistic works. The fourth chapel has a panel by Perugino, "Ascension of Christ", which is worth seeing.
The rotunda, which is divided into nine chapels, was begun by Michelangelo (1444) and completed in a different style by Leon Battista Alberti. The fourth chapel from the left contains a painting by Angelo Bronzino, "Resurrection" (1550). The Cappella della Madonna del Soccorso (Madonna of Succour) was designed by Giambologna between 1594 and 1598 as his own tomb and is richly adorned with frescoes, statuary and reliefs.
In the dome is a fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin by Volterrano (1681-1683).
Just inside the first chapel is a lovely "Pietà" by Baccio Bandinelli who is buried here with his wife.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 7:00 | 16:00 |
| Close | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 17:30 |
| Open | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Close | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 | 18:30 |
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
