Santa Maria delle Grazie, Minor basilica and shrine in San Giovanni Valdarno, Italy
Description
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a shrine and minor basilica featuring neoclassical design with three naves supported by columns and twelve domes decorated with 17th century frescoes. The building contains a museum with paintings spanning from the 15th to 17th centuries, including important religious artworks.
History
Construction started in 1484 following a reported miracle when a woman prayed before an image of Mary for her nephew's healing during a plague outbreak. This event sparked local belief and support that led to building the sanctuary.
Culture
The shrine was built around a miraculous image of Mary that became central to local spiritual life. Over the centuries, believers came here seeking help and leaving votive offerings, making it a place where personal faith found expression.
Practical
You can enter the museum through the right presbytery door of the basilica or from outside via the left portico staircase at Piazza Masaccio 9. It helps to check opening times before arriving, as the shrine gets busier at certain times of day.
Did you know?
The main altar displays a venerated image of Mary framed by a Glory of Angels fresco from the 17th century. This image remains the spiritual focal point that draws visitors seeking the deeper meaning of the sanctuary.
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