Santa Maria in Aula Regia, Comacchio

Santa Maria in Aula Regia is a sanctuary featuring a neoclassical facade dating from 1888, with a single-nave interior covered by cross vaults. A colonnaded portico with roughly 142 round arches connects the building to the cathedral and the city's civic tower.

The site once housed a monastery dedicated to Santa Maria from the 10th to 12th century before Duke Alfonso II granted it to the Capuchins in 1570. This transfer marked a shift in religious use and the building's adaptation to new purposes.

The statue of the Madonna inside is deeply venerated by local people as the city's patroness, a role shaped by centuries of devotion. You can sense this connection through the votive offerings and flowers that visitors regularly leave near the image.

The sanctuary is located in central Comacchio and can be easily reached on foot from the town center. The connected colonnaded passage provides shelter and creates a pleasant walkway to the nearby cathedral and civic areas.

The terra-cotta image at the heart of this sanctuary represents centuries of local artistic tradition and devotional practice. Few visitors notice the handcrafted details of this representation, which forms the spiritual focus of the entire building.