Basilica della Madonna dei sette dolori, Minor basilica in Pescara, Italy.
The Basilica della Madonna dei sette dolori is a church in Pescara built in the baroque style with a three-part facade and a Latin cross floor plan. Inside, three naves feature stucco decorations and an ornate tabernacle that serves as the religious focal point.
A chapel with an altar stood on the site of the reported apparition, and on 26 November 1665 Bishop Raffaele Esuberanzio established the parish of Santa Maria dei Sette Dolori there. The present basilica was consecrated on 30 May 1757 by Gennaro Fezzelli, bishop of Penne and Atri. On 8 December 1948 the Holy See entrusted the sanctuary to the Capuchin Friars Minor, and on 16 January 1959 John XXIII granted it the status of minor basilica.
Every year on 12 May, locals commemorate the "miracle of the rain", when a procession carrying the image toward the sea ended in a downpour that saved the crops. The wooden processional statue of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori wears a black dress with gilded inlays sewn by the people, and its golden crown was donated in 1907 for the solemn coronation by Bishop Vincenzo Sardi.
The basilica is located in Pescara's city center and welcomes visitors during the day. Wear respectful clothing and keep noise to a minimum, especially during religious services.
The wooden processional statue's black robe with gilded inlays was sewn by local people, and its expressive face is said to have served as a model for statues of the Virgin in other churches of the province. The golden crown was donated in 1907 for the solemn coronation by Bishop Vincenzo Sardi of Sulmona.
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