Chiesa Santa Maria di Piedigrotta

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  • Address
    Piazza Piedigrotta 24, Mergellina
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    66 97 61
  • Transport
    underground rail: Mergellina
  • Mon-Sat 07:00 - 12:00 & 17:30 - 20:00 , Sun 07:00 - 13:30 & 17:30 - 20:00

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The fishing families of Mergellina had already built a church on this site when, in 1353, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Benedictine monk, a nun and Pietro the Hermit (later to become Pope Celestine V; telling them to build her a church. She was taken at her word and the church was consecrated within the year. Since then, the church has remained the central focus of the Festa di Piedigrotta, celebrated on 8 September.

Originally, the facade faced the rock, or grotta, to which the church owes its name ( piedigrotta means 'foot of the cave'), but in 1553, it was reversed to face the city. In 1853, Enrico Alvino added the current neoclassical facade.

Inside, it's the 13th-century wooden statue of the Madonna con Bambino (Madonna with Baby) that the faithful come to see.