Basilica di Santa Maria all'Impruneta

The Basilica of Santa Maria all’Impruneta preserves a long tradition of devotion to its venerated image of the Virgin. Medieval fabric, Renaissance additions and the losses of the Second World War form distinct chapters of its history.

Why it matters

A Romanesque inscription records the church’s consecration on 3 January 1060 by Cardinal Umberto, acting on behalf of Pope Nicholas II. The sanctuary became a focus of Marian devotion for Florence and its surrounding territory.

What to notice

The seventeenth-century stone portico faces the main square. The crypt and bell tower preserve earlier architectural elements. The history of the treasury includes silverwork by Giovan Battista Foggini and gifts associated with Medici devotion to the image.

Context and history

A major Baroque remodelling began in 1714 under the architect Alessandro Saller, including a carved and gilded ceiling completed in 1717. Bombing in July 1944 destroyed much of that interior, leaving a profound break in the building’s architectural history. The Virgin’s image escaped damage and returned from Florence in 1947, carried by ox-cart in accordance with local tradition.