Santissima Annunziata

The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, today the most popular place for grand weddings, has always had a special place in the life of the city, and still does as the centre of celebrations for the Annunciation and Florentine New Year on 25 March.

History

The basilica began as a votive church, built during the time of Matilda of Tuscany to celebrate Florence's surviving the siege of Emperor Henry IV. This church fell into decay, and was refounded in 1250 as the mother church of the Servi, the new Servite Order. Instituted by the 'Seven Holy Founders', sons of seven Florentine noble families, the Servites dedicated themselves to the cult of the Virgin Mary. In their day they were as important in Florence as the Franciscans and Dominicans.

The Annunziata became a pilgrimage destination just a few years later, after the suspiciously dramatic appearance of a brand-new holy icon. A painter called Friar Bartolomeo (not the famous Fra Bartolommeo) was working on an image of the Virgin and found himself unable to properly paint her face. He fell asleep, and when he awoke the work had been magnificently completed—by the hand of an angel.