Second Miracle for Santissima Annunziata Basilica
Recently restored to its original glory, the “miraculous painting” of the Annunciation in the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata (Holy Annunciation) in Florence can now be admired by Florentines and visitors alike. The fresco has always been a bit of a puzzle. According to legend the face of the Virgin was painted by divine hand and dated back to the 13th century.
More recent research places it a century later but the mystery surrounding the work has persisted and the artist has never been identified. Michelangelo was also captivated by the face of Maria which he described thus: “it was not the art of the paintbrush that made the face of the Madonna, but truly something divine.”
The restoration work was particularly delicate. When restorer Anna Medora removed the frame she discovered that the fresco had been attacked by damp and mould. The recovery of the painting and the subsequent restoration of its original luminosity has been hailed as “a second miracle.”
The Basilica is one of the richest in Florence for treasures and works of art. Among the curiosities is the remains of a Roman organ that originally came from the Domus Aurea and belonged to the Emperor Nero.
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