The Church of the Madonna dell’Angelo, built around the year 1000, stands in an enchanting position overlooking the sea at the start of Levante beach, which is why this stretch of beach is also called “
Madonnina beach”.
Tradition says that some fishermen found the statue of the Holy Virgin floating in the sea on a block of marble and, despite the fishermen’s efforts, only some children sent by the Bishop managed to carry the Madonnina into the little church.
The cross outside the church recalls a miracle that happened in 1727, when a terrible storm surge broke the embankments. The water flooded the whole town, yet not a single drop entered the Sanctuary.
The ruined church of the Angel was demolished and a new sacred building with a single nave instead of the previous three was built in its place, consecrated in 1751 and dedicated to the Archangel Saint Michael and to the Blessed Virgin of the Angel.
In 2016 the door of the Sanctuary was made a holy door by Patriarch Francesco Moraglia during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
As soon as you enter the little church you can admire, above the high altar, the statue of the Blessed Virgin of the Angel protected by a sheet of glass; on the right is the chapel of the crucifix, which holds the ancient base on which, according to legend, the statue floated in the sea. The ceiling is frescoed by Gino Filippi with the scene of the Madonnina being found in the sea.
Every year on the second Sunday of July the Feast of the Coronation takes place, during which the statue of the Madonnina is carried in procession, accompanied by the traditional
burning of the bell tower of the
cathedral, which greets her when she arrives on Saturday and when she leaves on Sunday.
Also not to be missed is the
procession at sea, held every 5 years. On this occasion the Madonnina is carried in procession on the sea, accompanied by the fishermen’s boats dressed for the festival.
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