Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Syracuse explained

Building Name:Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Location:Syracuse, Italy
Religious Affiliation:Catholic Church
Province:Province of Syracuse
Architecture Type:Church

Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Saint Mary of the Miracles) is a Roman Catholic church located on via dei Miracoli and via dei Cordari, on the island of Ortigia, in the historic city center of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy.

Description

The church was built at the site of a prior church dedicated to St George, and the church is also sometimes referred to as San Giorgio ai Miracoli. The new dedication was adopted when icon of the Madonna, housed in the church, was said to have led to the cessation of a season of the plague in 1500–1501. The church was affiliated with the Confraternity dei SS. Martiri Crispino e Crispiniano, patron saints of the cobblers and furriers.[1] The church was damaged by the 1693 Sicily earthquake and rebuilt in the following year. It is likely the Renaissance style main portal dates to prior to the earthquake, with a lunette with a relief of the Madonna and child with Saints Roch and Sebastian. To the left of the entrance is an aedicula with a Madonna and Child by Giovanni della Robbia.[2]

Notes and References

  1. calzolai e lavoratori della pelle.
  2. Derived from Architettura religiosa in Ortigia by Lucia Acerra; published by Ediprint (1995); cited in Antonio Randazzo, site describing churches of Syracuse.