Trapani - Santuario dell'Annunziata

In the east of the town stands Trapani's most important building, the pilgrimage church of the Virgin Mary, the Santuario dell' Annunziata, founded in the 13th century. The facade with its richly decorated door and rose-window has been preserved from the 14th century church. The building was completely renovated in 1742 by G. B. Amico, who created a single-aisled and vaulted hall-church with a transverse oval dome above the chancel.

The interior and its chapels are richly adorned with works of art. These include the Fishermen's Chapel (Cappella dei Pescatori, 15th century) in the Late Gothic style with an octagonal dome and 16th century frescoes, the square, domed Seamen's Chapel (Cappella dei Marinai, 1514-40), and especially the Cappella della Madonna in the choir behind the high altar; it was built in 1498 to house the statue of the Madonna of Trapani. In it will be found the marble statue of the Madonna which is the most revered and most copied one in Sicily, sculpted c. 1350 by Nino Pisano or one of his school and carried in the Good Friday Procession. Later this chapel was given a marble entrance arch by Antonello Gagini and his sons (1531-37) which opened it up to the ante-room, and it was then blocked off with a bronze grille in 1591.