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The Bambinello of Giulianello: the sacred statue and the mystery of its stolen twin
In Giulianello, a few miles from Cori, the Church of San Giovanni Battista (St John the Baptist) houses a statue with a mysterious story to it. The Bambinello (Baby Jesus) of Giulianello is a 16th-century sculpture that has been venerated here since 1768. Legend has it that the wood from which it was carved comes from an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet its story is bound up with that of a twin work, which was stolen and never recovered.
The legend of the stolen twin
The "twin" statue was the famous Santo Bambino (Holy Child) of the Ara Coeli in Rome, which was stolen in 1994. Both works date from the same period, and share the same legendary origin. Today we cannot establish with any certainty which was the original and which the copy. A real mystery.
A devotion you can touch
This very uncertainty only serves to deepen local devotion. Every year on the 6th of January the village comes to a standstill for the ceremony of the Bacio del Bambinello (Kiss of the Holy Child). The statue, blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, is carried in procession and then presented to the faithful. A simple gesture, yet one that allows people to reach out and touch a piece of living history and faith.
As this is an active place of worship, visitors are advised to check opening times in advance, as these may vary — particularly during religious services.
