Misericordia: Marian Shrine, Art and Feast Days

The Madonna della Misericordia Shrine makes Misericordia a clear focal point for a trip with an interest in sacred art. The town is also crossed by an approximately 50-kilometer cycling route through the Sabine Hills, and hosts two recurring annual feast days. If you are looking for a hotel in Misericordia, these cultural and landscape connections can help guide your choice of destination.

The Shrine and Its Imagery

The shrine was designed and built by architect Angelo Sani in simple neoclassical forms. Ivory and pale green tones define the interior wall decoration, with subtle gold accents providing restrained details. At the altar, stucco and brick frame a painting with Umbrian influences, dating from the 15th to the 16th century. The architecture, materials and colors give the building a distinctive character, while the painting points to an older artistic tradition.

In the presbytery, the central wall features a depiction of the Madonna and Child with Saint Anthony the Abbot. The right wall shows the Angel’s Annunciation to Mary, while the left depicts the Visitation of Mary to Saint Elizabeth. The three subjects share a Marian theme but portray different scenes. The imagery on the side walls is also narrative: they feature frescoes of the Stations of the Cross.

The two side altars add further subjects to this imagery. The altarpiece on the right side altar depicts the Madonna and Child, Saint Joseph, Saints Joachim and Anne, and the young Saint John the Baptist. The left side altar shows the Deposition of Jesus. Thus, depictions of Mary and the saints sit alongside a scene from the Passion. A ceiling fresco shows the reported miracle, featuring the image, Lucia Del Bufalo, and people from the local community.

The History of the Depiction

The depiction in the shrine’s origin story shows the Madonna, the Child Jesus and Saint Anthony the Abbot. Bishop Paolo De Santis solemnly crowned the miraculous image on June 29, 1890. Alongside the subject of the image, a specific date from Misericordia’s religious history has thus been recorded.

Annual Feast Days

The tradition of the Madonna della Misericordia includes two recurring annual feast days: January 23 and June 27. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these days, check the program in advance. This lets you plan around the specific feast date without assuming that the same program is held every year.

Roman Waterworks and Getting Around

The area of La Misericordia also bears traces of its Roman past: an ancient underground Roman aqueduct was discovered near the church of the same name. The waterworks include a 16-meter-deep well. Two aqueduct tunnels begin at the bottom of the well and run in opposite directions. The Madonna della Misericordia Shrine is located on Via Provinciale Stazione.

For Autolinee Troiani’s bus route 1, Poggio Mirteto FS and Ponte Garibaldi Cap. are listed as termini, with a stop at Misericordia. Check the current timetable before planning to use this connection.

Cycling Through the Sabine Hills

An approximately 50-kilometer cycling route through the Sabine Hills passes through Fuori Dazio and Misericordia. Along the way, it uses lightly trafficked roads surrounded by greenery. This information refers to the route; it does not describe all roads in the town in general. If you are planning the ride, check current road conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Rocca Sinibalda, Magliano Sabina, Montebuono, Scandriglia, Canneto, Talocci, Ornaro, Piano.

For the broader travel overview: Rieti.