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Church of Santa Maria della Sorresca in Gaeta: born among tuna barrels, closed since 1966
In 1513, beneath a portico owned by the Albito family, where "sorra" (tuna belly) was cleaned and salted, an image of the Virgin Mary was said to be the site of a miracle. Two years later, a first chapel was erected on that very spot. A century later, between 1617 and 1635, the current Baroque church was built, likely based on a design by Andrea Lazzari. Closed for worship since 1966, it is now opened occasionally for cultural events.
An unusual layout
The church features an octagonal floor plan, with the entrance located on one of the shorter sides, which also houses the choir loft (cantoria). The façade on Via Duomo dates to 1855, and is likely the work of Ferdinando Travaglini. Prior to that year, the entrance was located in a side alley, accessible via a narrow staircase that still exists today.
The interior
The high altar in polychrome marble is the work of Dionisio Lazzari. The central altarpiece (ancona), decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays, once held the icon of the Madonna della Sorresca (Our Lady of Sorresca); the original is now kept in the Diocesan Museum. On the choir loft, a pipe organ by Tomaso de Martino (circa 1730) is preserved, featuring 9 stops and full mechanical action, still in perfect working order.
