Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, San Giovanni Valdarno

Located behind the Palazzo di Arnolfo, the church is at least as particular. First of all for the facade that sees, behind a gate and two angels placed at the entrance, on the ground floor a unique chapel and on the first floor the entrance to the actual church. But let's go in order. On the ground floor, passing a door surmounted by a beautiful work attributed to Della Robbia, you enter the chapel of the "miracle of Monna Tancia" where you can read the story of a prodigious event that took place there in the Middle Ages and admire the ancient access door. in San Giovanni Valdarno. Leaving the chapel you can access the church either by using an elevator or by climbing the two side stairs. Upon entering you will find yourself on the sides of the altar and here too there are surprises: I was amazed above all by the panel that covers the fresco behind the altar depicting the miracle of milk.

It is a wonderful basilica, located in the historic center of San Giovanni Valdarno. The basilica dates back to around 1400. To access the basilica, you have to go up through one of the two stairways on either side of the entrance. "Below" the basilica, practically as soon as you enter from the square, there are three chapels, of which the most important is the one in the center which is dedicated to the fallen. This chapel is preceded by a high relief by De La Robbia. Entering the basilica proper, one can distinguish a more modern style and a more decorated one. The oldest part of the church is divided into three naves, marked by round arches, supported by columns with Corinthian capitals. The frescoes that decorate the spans of these naves were done in 1600 by Giuseppe Nasini and Vincenzo Ferrati. This older part connects to the more modern part, making it blossom into a large circular plan, surmounted by a dome. I strongly recommend that you go and visit this basilica, it is really worth it!

Beautiful basilica, particularly because we find the altar behind us, reading the various stories we understand why. Neo-classical style with a pinch of modern in the final area ... to visit the museum of the basilica .....

It is a beautiful Basilica to visit. The basilica was built in 1484 around one of the four gates in the city walls: the Porta San Lorenzo which looked towards Siena. It was dedicated to the venerated image of the Madonna, to whom was attributed the miracle of having indulged in the prayers of Monna Tancia on behalf of her nephew who was ill with the plague, a case that occurred in 1478. Over time, the place ceased to serve as a strategic access to the city for become a place of worship, first with the contribution of a tabernacle, then with a chapel and subsequently with the construction of the church. The construction was completed in the first twenty years of the following century but was subsequently enriched for the following years. The facade was then modernized in neoclassical style between 1840 and 1856. In January 1929 Pope Pius XI elevated the church to the dignity of a minor basilica.

It is a beautiful large San Giovannese basilica which includes the chapel of Monna Tancia (see history) and on the outside a high relief by Giovanni della Robbia, a typical sculptor from the Valdarno (find out more about the Della Robbia family). They have mass and it is certainly open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Inside there is a painting of the Madonna subject of a miracle after a fire. I recommend to visit it!