The sanctuary of the Ss. Annunziata was erected on the site where the apparitions of the Virgin to a little girl took place in 1470, on one of the main roads connecting the north of the peninsula with Florence, precisely at the historical juncture in which there were considerable influxes of pilgrims; hence the presence of masterpieces of art and the good fortune of having plenty of means to build the adjacent convent with the two cloisters.

The church is of considerable size and has a single nave with side chapels and a decidedly raised presbytery. Inside there is a small marble temple from 1527 dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation, traditionally attributed to Sansovino or to his pupil Tribolo, a thesis not supported by more recent critics; in the small temple there is a beautiful altar, behind which in a niche there is a 15th century fresco with the scene of the Annunciation, found next to the remains of the ancient Via Francigena. On the altar there is a valuable tempera panel by Luca Cambiaso from 1558; by the same artist is a panel depicting the Eternal Father, in the lunette over the door of the sacristy.

The sacristy itself is a veritable treasure trove of works of art: the inlaid wooden cabinets and benches made in 1676 by Father Francesco Battaglia da Mignegno are crowned by the quadratura frescoed vault by Francesco Natali. «Here Natali masterfully manages to create the illusion of space that opens beyond the ceiling; the colors themselves, from light blues to pinks, greens, lilacs and browns, so variously shaded and interspersed, never too violent, attenuated by the bursting light from two large windows, help the eye to escape upwards together with the slender columns perfectly foreshortened up to the central opening, artistically surrounded by a circle of leaves, the last contrast to the gaze that sinks into the vision of a dome that seems very far away.» (taken from “Two Centuries of Baroque Painting in Pontremoli” by R. Bossaglia, V. Bianchi, L. Bertocchi)

Also interesting is the Chapel of S. Niccolò da Tolentino which also has perspective frescoes by Natali. «In this work, now almost completely recovered thanks to a careful restoration, he demonstrates that he has perfectly assimilated the spatial discourse experienced in some rooms of the Villa Dosi.»

Very interesting is the panel with several compartments, with a step, depicting “St. Anna holding the Virgin in her arms” datable around the end of the 15th century.

The church has a solemn facade of excellent workmanship, carried out in 1558 by the “comacini masters”.

photos: arch. Elia Santini