The Church of Santa Annunziata: A Spiritual Treasure in the Heart of Torrita di Siena

In the picturesque medieval village of Torrita di Siena, nestled in the hills of the Valdichiana Senese, stands an architectural and spiritual jewel: The Church of Santa Annunziata.

We have no historical documents attesting to its construction, but on the basis of various testimonies found, such as Francesco Vanni‘s account of the 1592 Annunciation altarpiece, it can be said that the church was built in the 16th century.

Set between brick buildings, the church has a brick façade with a triangular tympanum decorated with terracotta elements. At the top stands the bell tower, an example of Baroque religious architecture, which expressed itself in original forms such as the decoration at the apex adorned with a bulb or onion, reminiscent of a candle flame.
Its peculiarity is that it differs from the many other bell towers of churches in the 16th-century Valdichiana, associated with the late Mannerist style.

The single-nave interior is a triumph of artistic beauty, denoted by rich 18th-century stucco decorations.

Among the paintings once kept here is the Madonna and Child with Saints Dominic and Catherine, by the 17th-century Sienese School. The high altar, renovated in 1729, reflects the late Baroque style of the time and seemed to be custom-made to accommodate the painting of The Annunciation by Francesco Vanni (now in the Church of Saints Flora and Lucilla).

It consists of four twisted columns flanking the painting, and at the apex a stucco canopy holds putti. The upper register is enlivened by two angels, while at the bottom are two statues of the Prophet Isaiah and King David, placed to complete the structure. These decorations were entrusted to the mastery of Bartolomeo Mazzuoli, a Sienese sculptor and plasterer who we find in Rome alongside Bernini.

Another significant work is a canvas also reproducing the Annunciation, attributable to Ventura Salimbeni, Francesco Vanni’s half-brother; in fact, on the back of the painting we can admire a new representation of the Flagellation, a faithful copy of a canvas by Vanni conserved in San Quirico (Siena). On the side walls are two altars dedicated to St Joseph and the Madonna of Fatima, respectively.

Attached to the church is the Oratory of the Holy Crucifix, on the walls of which is an 18th-century Via Crucis in enamelled terracotta. In 1843, the Baptismal Font in yellow Siena marble was added. Today, the building is deconsecrated and houses the Contrada Porta Nova headquarters.

In conclusion, the Church of Santa Annunziata is a place that enchants and inspires, a bridge between faith and art. Its history, architecture and the artistic treasures it houses make it a precious gem for the village of Torrita di Siena.