Santa Maria delle Vigne, Minor basilica and parish church in central Genoa, Italy.
Santa Maria delle Vigne is a three-nave basilica in central Genoa with an octagonal dome and Latin cross floor plan. Its neoclassical facade features Corinthian columns and a triangular pediment, while the interior is organized around multiple chapels and altars throughout the space.
The church originated from a Marian chapel established in the 6th century, though it first appeared in official records in 1083. Subsequent rebuilding campaigns transformed it into the neoclassical structure seen today.
The church's name reflects an ancient devotion to Mary, and its interior contains chapels endowed by Genoese families over the centuries. These spaces hold artworks that reveal how local people expressed their faith and social standing through religious patronage.
Plan time to walk slowly through the interior and observe the different chapels and their decorative elements throughout the space. The natural light shifts throughout the day, so visiting at different times reveals different impressions of the building.
The famous Italian composer Alessandro Stradella is buried here after being assassinated in Genoa in 1682. His tomb preserves the memory of a tragic moment in the city's musical history.
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