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Sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Civita in Itri: a legend born at sea
The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Civita stands on top of Monte Fusco, (673m a.s.l.) in the Aurunci Mountains, offering a view stretching to Circeo and Gaeta. The earliest records go back to 1147, when a notary and his wife funded the restoration of the small church, then looked after by Brother Bartolomeo.
The Origins: history and popular tradition
In the 8th century, during the iconoclastic persecution imposed by Emperor Leo the Isaurian, two Basilian monks were caught with a painting on wood of the Virgin Mary. The soldiers locked the two monks in a chest and threw them into the sea, along with the painting. After 54 days the chest washed ashore, first in Messina and then in Gaeta. Displayed before the faithful, the painting disappeared shortly after, before being found on a holm oak on Monte Civita by a deaf and non-verbal shepherd, who regained his hearing and speech. Since then, the painting has been preserved by the sanctuary’s Benedictine monks.
Three naves and a marble altar
The present-day church dates from 1491, consecrated by Bishop Francesco Patrizi. In the central nave is the altar by Filippo Pecorella, with 18th-century marbles and inlays of the Neapolitan school, housing the original glass-protected painting. On the vault are scenes painted in 1919 by Salvatore Cozzolino. The side altars are dedicated to St Joachim and St Anne, while on the left there is a room preserving relics and vestments donated by the faithful, including those of Pius IX.
