Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
Façade of the Basilica.
Basic information
Location	Genoa, Italy
Geographic coordinates	Coordinates: 44°24′51″N 8°55′42″E / 44.41417°N 8.92833°E / 44.41417; 8.92833
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Genoa
Country	Italy
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	National monument
Status	Active
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church
Architectural style	Mannerist
Groundbreaking	1520
Completed	18c

The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is a Catholic cathedral in Genoa, northern Italy; its decoration employed the major baroque studios and artists in Genoa in the 17th century.

It is named Vastato because the area where it was built was outside the walls of the city, in an area where houses had been demolished (devastated) for defensive reasons. In Latin, vastinium referred to a safety belt within the protective bastions.

The church was begun by the Franciscans in 1520 in a site previously occupied by the small church of Santa Maria del Prato, belonging to the Humiliati. Works were however halted in 1537, and in 1591 the Lomellini family continued the reconstruction, directed by Taddeo Carlone.

In the early 17th century the rich Baroque decoration was executed, with Andrea Ansaldo in charge of completing the works, and in particular the dome. The current Neoclassicist façade dates to 1830-1840s, designed by Carlo Barabino. The church was damaged by Allied bombings during World War II.

Artists responsible for the interior decoration include Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione with St. James defeats Moors; Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (GBC) with St. James opens Coimbra gates to King Ferdinand; Valerio Castello with Martyrdom of St. James and St. Peter christens St. James, Giovanni Domenico Cappellino with Preaching of the apostle, Domenico Piola with Martyrdom of the saint, Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotti with Aurelio and Giovanni, Aurelio Lomi with Daughters of Zebedee introduce Jesus & saints.