Santuario di Maria Santissima dell'Itria, Baroque church in Polistena, Italy.
The Santuario di Maria Santissima dell'Itria is a baroque church in Polistena featuring a single nave, a two-story facade with granite columns, and a prominent dome decorated with colorful majolica tiles. Inside, visitors find an icon of the Holy Trinity above the main altar and a wooden statue group depicting Madonna dell'Itria made in 1798.
This sanctuary was built before 1541 originally as the Church of the Trinity, but it was destroyed during the 1783 earthquake. The structure was then reconstructed following architect Francesco Morani's designs and completed in 1804.
The sanctuary is dedicated to Maria Santissima dell'Itria, a veneration rooted deep in regional tradition and devotion. Visitors can experience this faith through the religious artworks displayed throughout the interior, which reflect the spiritual life of the local community.
The best time to visit is during the main festival in July, when a procession moves through the streets of Polistena and the town's religious life is most active. The sanctuary sits in the town center and is easily accessible on foot, with enough space to enter and explore comfortably.
The crypt beneath the sanctuary holds the remains of several notable individuals, including Donna Ottavia Valensise Fazzari, who was remembered for her charitable activities. This hidden level underground tells the stories of people who shaped local life over the centuries.
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