santuario di Maria Santissima di Custonaci (Santuario Maria Santissima di Custonaci)

Its construction dates back nearly to the second half of the 16th century, on a previous chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
As time passed by, the chapel has been restored and enlarged several times.
The first works were done in 1536, then between 1727 and 1772, and finally the biggest restoration between 1870 and 1900 by Monsignor Giuseppe Rizzo, who wholly modified the sanctuary, including the imposing staircase, the Gothic style façade and the columns.
The homonymous parish was erected in 1909; in 2012, some works of liturgical adaptation of the presbytery enriched the sanctuary with a new altar, a new ambon and a new seat, with the repositioning of the 18th century balustrade.

Architecture

A particular parvis surrounds the sanctuary: it is paved with small river pebbles which create unique and elegant geometrical and floral patterns. The façade has a rose window made with tufa and coloured glasses.
Its interior shape is a Roman cross with three different naves, divided by columns in brickwork and painted with marble effects, from which acute sixth arches (calling back the Gothic) raise.
The high altar, realized in baroque style in 1627, is embellished by polychrome marbles; in the marble complex of the presbytery there is a statue of the Immaculate Conception, dating back to the first half of the 17th century, and the wooden statues of Saint Albert and Saint Julian, patrons of Erice, on the two sides.
In the lower central part, we can admire the image of Maria Santissima di Custonaci, a precious painting realized by Antonello da Messina in the 15th century. In front of it they placed the Lamp of Peace, donated by the communes of the Agro Ericino in 2011, which is always lighted.

Works
In the Cappellone there are the 18th century wooden carved choir,…

"Santuario Maria Santissima di Custonaci". Retrieved 2018-01-02.
"Santuario Mariano di Custonaci". Retrieved 2018-01-02.
"Festa Maria SS. di Custonaci". Retrieved 2018-01-02.
"MARIA SS. DI CUSTONACI - CUSTONACI". Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
""I FESTEGGIAMENTI IN ONORE DI MARIA SS. DI CUSTONACI"". Retrieved 2018-01-02.
"Da visitare: Santuario dedicato a Maria SS. di Custonaci (TP) e la leggenda del quadro miracoloso". Retrieved 2018-01-02.

== Other projects ==