BASILICA DELLA SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA DEL VASTATO
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Church built in 1520 resembling a Greek temple in Genoa.
Built from 1520 onwards by Franciscan monks, this church outwardly resembles an all-white Greek temple, with a 19th-century pronaos and two symmetrical campaniles. Yet this somewhat austere exterior conceals a pure marvel of Baroque architecture. The interior decorations are a superb example of Genoa's late 17th-century Mannerism: push open the door of this church and you won't believe your eyes! The dimensions are monumental and the decor is sumptuous! The columns alternate between red Caunes-Minervois and white Carrara marble. As for the gilding, stuccowork fills the vault and dome, sublimated by frescoes including numerous trompe-l'oeil motifs typical of the Counter-Reformation period. The iconography of the dome is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In the left transept, note the chapel dedicated to Saint Pascal Baylon: the carved and painted wooden ensemble, depicting the saint in adoration before the Eucharist, is stunningly realistic (put a coin in the light box to admire it better). In 1943, the church was largely destroyed by bombing. Reconstructed as an exact replica, it has been undergoing restoration in recent years. Now visible in all its splendor, we strongly recommend that you make a detour to admire it. The audioguide, currently only available in Italian, can be scanned from the church's website, and is ideal for making sure you don't miss out on any of the marvels of the place.
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