Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala
4.5
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Neighborhood: Florence Historic Center
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles427 reviews
Excellent
279
Very good
122
Average
20
Poor
3
Terrible
3

Bill B
Pueblo, CO1,207 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The exterior of the Basilica is Renaissance in style and truly magnificant. It blends into the Ospedale near by in the Piazza. The church's chapels contain works by Giambologna, Perugino, del Sarto, Pontormo and others. Well worth a visit when you are in Florence as is the Piazza.
Written January 21, 2020
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Oldjack
Greater Melbourne, Australia27,929 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
The church built in 1250 with some changes over time was elaborate with great art work. It is said a Friar Bartolomeo despaired he could paint a virgin with a beautiful enough face and went to sleep on the job and when he woke the painting had been completed.(by an Angel). The painting is on display (but missed) and one of many in this elaborate church
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Akshaya S
Noida, India432 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
The church is a lesser know or visited place as we did not find too many people there during out visit. But it is a marvelous renaissance style basilica from inside. Beautiful work done on the dome.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alphaaction
Burien, WA11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017
So many extraordinary buildings and artworks are free for the stroll in Florence. We came upon the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata on a stroll to somewhere else and were lured inside by the imposing design of the church, the artwork in the entry hall, and the smiling face of a friendly docent. No money is required, though we bought candles and made an offering to the upkeep of the church. Then, we made our way quietly around the parameter, taking in the stunning sculptures and art. This is a living church, so folks were praying in one of the radiating chapels, and other individuals were doing their devotions in the main nave. When you visit the basilica, after greeting the priest who may be present, take a look at the ceiling. It is a kaleidoscope of glorious golden design and workmanship protectively spreading across the entire span. There are little books that explain the art and the history of this monument to devotion, but the impact of all its beauty can be fully appreciated without words. One interesting feature of this church is outside, on the ground, approaching the entry way. It is a profile set in marble of an African man, black stone forming his face and insets of white marble forming a headband. The band seems to have three Ts on it, set at a 90 degree angle. I learned that they are not Ts but hammers. There was no mention of this profile in the literature that I could find, which made me more curious. What was the face of an adult African male doing on the ground outside a church in Florence. I wrote a friend who is also a writer and historian in Italy. She found the answer to the puzzle of African man buried in Wikipedia.

"The image appearing in the portico at the entrance to Santissima Annunziata is the family crest of the Pucci family, who financed construction of the porch in the 17th century, hundreds of years after the main part of the church was built. That crest possibly originates from the original family name of the Pucci, Saracini, which probably indicates an African or Near/Middle Eastern family origin. In the Middle Ages, "saraceno" meant not only "Saracen", but any person or element originating in North Africa, Turkey, or the Middle East ("grano saraceno" means "buckwheat", a grain brought to Europe from Anatolia by the Crusaders; you still find "torri saracene" in ruins along the Italian coasts, to guard against invaders from the Barbary Coast...). In the 13th century the Pucci family were registered as carpenters, which explains the three hammer-like emblems on the black man's headband. In other versions of the crest (found inside the church and on an outer wall of nearby Palazzo Pucci) those emblems become three T's, echoing the motto, "Tempore tempora tempora", or "Temper the times with time".
Written March 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TRACKMA5T3R
Miami, FL48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2012 • Couples
One of the most amazing church that I've ever seen. Gilt frames everywhere, even on the ceiling. And spiritual ambient around.One of the more im
Written June 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JoaoAM
Lisbon, Portugal18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Not only is the church incredibly beautiful inside, but alse we were very lucky to meet a nice friar who showed us the treasured relic of Our Lady's portrait.
We might as well have never got to the Piazza della Annunziata and, even if we did, we might not enter the church because both places, despite being very pretty and quite central, are not touristical... thank God!
Written June 19, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

subtarget
Hong Kong, China481 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
the outside's pretty ordinary.
once inside, it will be a lot of wows.
Everything is an art piece.
Very photogenic.
Written April 11, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jordanellie41
Longridge, UK1,069 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016
This church isn't so well known as many others and is free to enter. You can easily miss it as it doesn't look like anything at all from the outside, but inside it is glorious. It's gold ceiling is a match for many of it's illustrious and more famous cathedrals.
Written February 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Yalitza M
Clevedon, UK116 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015 • Couples
We find this place by mistake, but was the best mistake we love it is so special, the paint, the architecture, the lights and we got there during the rosary you can imaging was magic, I will recommend this Basilica more than any other churches on Italy.
Written October 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MajaStev
Negotino, Negotino, Macedonia29 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Friends
The Basilica of the Annunciation is my favorite church.
I accidentally visited with my friends and we were amazed by this ancient beauty, introduced in church.
Most remarkable are the frescoes that decorate the walls, made ​​to narrate the life of the Virgin
The church is very rich of decorations. For me the most striking is the beautiful baroque decoration visible in the ceiling of Volterra and lots of marble, stucco and gilding.
This is a lovely church in which spiritual power is present everywhere.
Worth visiting!!!
Written July 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basilica della Santissima Annunziata - Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala, Florence

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