Beata Vergine della Suasia Sanctuary

The Sanctuary, a significant creation of Tuscan Renaissance architecture, was built in the second half of the 16th century at the behest of the people of Civitella, in memory of the miraculous revelation of the Blessed Virgin to a poor orphan boy in 1556 near a small cell near the Suasia stream.

The project was designed by the Florentine architect Zanobio Lastricati. With a Greek cross plan, the building occupies an area of 454 square metres and is 32 m high. The walls are 1.60 m thick. The dome is supported by four pillars that innervate round arches 9 m in diameter. The church, restored after war damage, houses on the high altar the venerated image of the ‘Madonna and Child’, a 1400 fresco by an unknown author, belonging to the Tuscan school.

The project was designed by the Florentine architect Zanobio Lastricati. With a Greek cross plan, the building occupies an area of 454 square meters and is 32 m high. The walls are 1.60 m thick. The dome is supported by four pillars that innervate round arches 9 m in diameter. The church, restored after war damage, houses on the high altar the venerated image of the ‘Madonna and Child’, a 1400 fresco by an unknown author, belonging to the Tuscan school.

Three works are worth mentioning: Christ on the Cross with St John, Magdalene and St Luke, an oil on canvas attributed to Giovanni Battista Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo the Younger, dating back to the early 17th century, the Madonna and Child with Saints Barbara, Andrew and Lawrence, oil on canvas by an unknown artist of the Bolognese school, from the beginning of the 17th century, and the Madonna and Child among Musician Angels, oil on canvas of the late Venetian manner, from the first half of the 17th century, signed ‘Hier Veron’, Girolamo Veronese. Work from the 17th century, late Venetian manner. The work is placed on the altar of St. John the Baptist. The altarpiece depicts Madonna and Child surrounded by angels playing music. The figures of St. Anthony Abbot, St. Rocco and St. Francis are also depicted.

An organ built by Feliciano Fedeli from Camerino in 1734 is located on the altar, consisting of 350 pipes and 9 registers. It was restored in 1969-70 by the Piccinelli company of Padua.

The solemn celebration is held on the fourth Sunday in May.