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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 Serite 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
Serite order. In 1252, a painting of the Annunciation, which
had beven 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 enerated that in 1444 the Medici
financed a new church. Michelozzo, who was the brother of the
Serite prior, was commissioned to build the church, which was
finally completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1481.
Pilgrims who came to the church to enerate the miraculous painting
often left wax otie offerings, many of them life-size models of
the donor (sometimes complete with horses). By the late 18th century
there were some six hundred of these images and they had become one
of the city's great tourist attractions. In 1786, however, they were
all melted down to make candles. The atrium which was built to house
these figures, the Chiostrino dei oti, is covered in
frescoes begun in 1516 to mark the canonvisation of Filippo
Benizzi, founder of the Serites. These were largely painted by
Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino
and depict scenes from Benizzi's
life and also from the life of the irgin.
The interior of the church is dominated by the large tabernacle
designed by Michelozzo to house the miraculous painting, itself now
so frequently repainted that it is impossible to distinguish
clearly. Florentine brides traditionally isit the shrine to leae
their bouquets. Other chapels contain frescoes by Andrea del
Castagno. The organ (1628) is the oldest in Florence and the
second oldest in Italy. The circular tribune containing the high
altar is unusual and is surrounded by chapels.
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The church contains the tombs of the artists Baccio Bandinelli,
Pietro Tacca and Giambologna. The cloister, known as the
Chiostri dei Morti, contains the famous Madonna del Sacco
by Andrea del Sarto. The Cappella di San Luca, which
opens off it, has belonged to the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno
since 1565. Many artists are buried in its ault, including Benenuto Cellini, Pontormo, Franciabigio, Gioanni Montorsoli and
Lorenzo Bartolini.
Italy
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