Was the Chiesa della Madonna della Tosse always a place of solace for those battling coughs? Well, the answer lies hidden within its very name. The Chiesa della Madonna della Tosse, meaning “Church of the Madonna of the Cough,” stands as a testament to the hopes and fears of a city once ravaged by illness. Imagine Florence in the throes of the 16th century, a time when the shadow of the plague still lingered. Among the many ailments that plagued the city, whooping cough, or the “cough of 100 days,” struck fear into the hearts of parents. It was during this time that a humble tabernacle, depicting the Madonna and Child nestled between Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint John the Baptist, came to be seen as a beacon of hope. The tabernacle, salvaged from the ruins of the San Gallo convent, quickly became a site of pilgrimage for those seeking solace from the relentless cough. As the story goes, even Grand Duchess Cristina di Lorena herself appealed to the image for the health of her children. When her prayers were seemingly answered, her gratitude took the form of an oratory, erected in 1595 around the venerated tabernacle. This act of devotion paved the way for the construction of the Chiesa della Madonna della Tosse in 1603, a more permanent tribute to the Madonna’s purported intercession. Although the church’s appearance evolved with time, most notably with a Neo-Renaissance makeover in the 19th century, the core of its existence, a testament to faith and healing, persists.
Santa Lucia alla Castellina
“A sanctuary of art and faith””. You might say that about many places, but here at Santa Lucia alla Castellina,