Sanctuary of the Madonna della Milicia - Altavilla Milicia (PA) - Sicily
- Tuttitaly
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
The history here is strongly linked to its Sanctuary and the painting of the Madonna della Milicia kept inside. It is said that the canvas arrived here in the seventeenth century from pirates who were stranded by a storm. The misfortune was attributed to their painting on board, and they decided to throw it into the waves. Some farmers found the painting and loaded it onto an ox cart. Along the way, the animals stopped, and a chapel to the Madonna was built there... #tuttitaly
In the picturesque setting of the village of Altavilla Milicia, overlooking the Belvedere and framed by the province of Palermo, shines an architectural and spiritual gem: the Basilica of the Sanctuary of the "Madonna della Milicia." This sacred place is the vibrant heart of the community of Altavilla and holds a rich history intertwined with legends and miracles.
The Basilica, in the Latin cross shape and nineteenth-century style, stands imposingly on the hill, with its façade adorned with statues of remarkable value. Among the artworks present, the statue of Saint Francis of Paola stands out, a masterpiece by the master Bagnasco, who is also the author of the four paintings depicting emblematic moments of Christ's life. Of particular note is the Crucifix, restored by De Simone, revealing an original Byzantine vein.
The Sanctuary has been a pilgrimage site for over three centuries. Still, Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, Archbishop of Palermo, sanctioned its elevation to the official Marian Sanctuary of Western Sicily in 2004 by a decree. The pearl among the sacred relics is the painting of the Madonna, dating back to the fourteenth century and restored in 1990. It radiates ancient splendors and typically Giottoesque suggestions.
Legend
The Sanctuary's history and the miraculous Madonna della Milicia's painting are surrounded by mystery and legend. It is said that the canvas was brought in the seventeenth century by pirates shipwrecked in a storm, attributed to the painting they were carrying. Thrown into the sea, peasants unexpectedly found the painting and took it to where the oxen had stopped. Here, a chapel was erected in honor of the Virgin Mary.
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