- Pietrangelo
- Italy - History Art Tourism
Santa Annunziata
A visit to Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata (Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Florence and the mother church of the Servite order. It is located at the northeastern side of the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, which was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.
The church was founded in 1250 by the seven original members of the Servite order. In 1252, a painting of the Annunciation, which had been begun by one of the monks but abandoned in despair because he did not feel he could create a beautiful enough image, was supposedly completed by an angel while he slept.
This painting was placed in the church and became so venerated that in 1444 the Medici financed a new church. Michelozzo, who was the brother of the Servite prior, was commissioned to build the church, which was finally completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1481.
The church contains the tombs of the artists Giambologna, Benvenuto Cellini and Pontormo.