Chiesa della SS. Annunziata, Catholic church in Paestum, Italy
The Chiesa della SS. Annunziata is a Catholic church in Paestum with a simple layout featuring a central nave bordered by two rows of ancient columns. The space ends in an apse, and many of these columns come from earlier structures and were reused.
The church originated in the 5th century and underwent significant redesign in the 12th century when it was expanded into three naves. This expansion deliberately used columns from earlier structures to create the new layout.
The church preserves medieval frescoes that show how people expressed their religious devotion through local art. These works let visitors experience the artistic practice of that era directly.
Access is available during regular opening hours, allowing visitors to explore the historical architecture. It is helpful to check local opening times in advance to plan a visit.
During a restoration in the late 20th century, the floor was lowered to its original level, revealing ancient columns that had been hidden. This work uncovered unexpected details about the structure that belonged to the period before the medieval expansion.
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