Like many of Genoa’s important churches and palaces, the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is rather plain on the outside. Inside, however, magnificent Baroque interiors surprise with enormous frescoes framed by sumptuous gold stucco—a dramatic testimony to the former wealth of this historic marine republic.
Although the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato was begun in the 16th century, the interior was finished almost a century later, at the height of the Baroque period. The richly frescoed and gilded ceiling and dome are the headliners here, with works by some of the most celebrated artists in Genoa in the 17th century. The Neoclassical facade, however, was added in the 19th century, although the original was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt after the war.
The basilica is a popular stop on private city tours or hop-on hop-off bus tours, along with the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Palazzi dei Rolli, Doge’s Palace, and historic port (home to Genoa’s Aquarium, the largest in Europe). Genoa tours can be combined with day trips to nearby destinations along the Ligurian coast, including Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and Santa Margherita Ligure.
The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is located on Via della Nunziata in the historic center, about a ten-minute walk from both Old Port and the Genova Piazza Principale train station.
The church is just a short walk from the busy waterfront and port, so duck in to admire the interiors during the busiest hours of the day for a quiet break from the tourist crowds.
Genoa’s historic churches and palaces tend to have understated exteriors and magnificent interiors, but the city’s San Lorenzo Cathedral (Duomo) is an exception. This Gothic and Romanesque architectural masterpiece has a striking facade featuring bands of black and white marble, an enormous rose window, and intricately carved reliefs.
