Basilica della Madonna del Ponte, Minor basilica and cathedral in Lanciano, Italy.
The Basilica della Madonna del Ponte rests on three arches of a Roman bridge and features a single nave with pilasters that support a vaulted ceiling. The structure sits directly above the ancient arches, making the bridge itself a foundation for worship.
Construction began in 1785 under engineer Eugenio Michitelli, who rebuilt the entire structure that had stood since the 14th century. His design reused the surviving Roman bridge arches as the foundation for the new church.
A polychrome terracotta statue of Madonna sits in a niche near the chancel and shows how deeply this figure matters to the local community. The statue reflects religious devotion that remains central to the place today.
The bell Squillina rings at 8:00 in the morning and at noon, marking time for the community. Visiting during these moments lets you hear the bell's role in the daily rhythm of the place.
During reconstruction work in 1088, workers uncovered an 8th-century Byzantine icon of Mary and Child that had been hidden during iconoclast periods. This discovery reveals how sacred objects lay protected within the site's foundations for centuries.
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