The Church of Santa Maria was rebuilt approximately where the ancient one once stood.
Construction began in 1934 and was inaugurated twelve years later, on December 2, 1946, although not entirely completed. The church consists of three naves, with pillars dividing the space. The central nave is taller than the side ones and features eight windows on each side, with rounded arches. The main façade is of the salient type, presenting three portals with a rose window positioned above the main entrance.
The interior is illuminated by the large skylight on the façade and divided into three naves by pillars that structure the space. The side naves each have a small altar on the back wall with statues of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Sorrows; their positions were reversed in 2000, the same year a transparent urn containing the image of the dead Christ was placed beneath the right altar. Each side wall has two windows and four niches for saints. Among the displayed statues, that of Saint Sebastian survived the earthquake and is the only one remaining from the original parish church.
In 1968, funded by the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno, expansion and restoration work began on the church. The interior was refurbished with reinforced vaulting, restored stucco, and gilding. A new floor was laid with Trani stone slabs, and the interior space was expanded. The adjacent areas to the church and bell tower were permanently fitted with more effective waterproof coverings and cladding.
The image of the Madonna di Pietraquaria was placed in an onyx niche. On either side of the image are a series of frescoes depicting miracles attributed to the Madonna.
**Description:**
Before restoration, the painting of the Madonna was severely damaged. Theodor Mommsen, who examined it in 1879, believed it dated back to the 14th century. It depicts the Madonna standing, wearing a star-studded robe and mantle, holding the blessing Child with her right arm. This effigy was solemnly crowned on September 16, 1838, by Monsignor Giuseppe Segna, following a decree from the Vatican Chapter, with grand celebrations attended by a multitude of faithful. The significance of this event was reaffirmed on its 50th and 100th anniversaries.
**Date of origin:** Between 1300 and 1399
**Epiphany:** Madonna
**Image:** Painting
**Location:** Other
**Original Sanctuary Location:**
Originally, ex-votos were hung in the sacristy and around the altar, but over time they were removed, either due to deterioration or to repurpose valuable items for church reconstruction expenses.
**Notes on the Collection:**
Ex-votos and donations testify to numerous interventions by the Madonna during public and private calamities.
**Types of Ex-Votos:**
Painted tablets or inscribed plaques, goldsmith objects, miscellaneous items, other
A letter from 1893, preserved in the Avezzano archives, written by Don Luca Boleo, parish priest of San Pelino, declares that he received the grace of rain from the Madonna di Pietraquaria, to whom the devotees of San Pelino and Avezzano had prayed (cf. ADM, fondo C/90 fasc.2172).
**9th–10th Century (Pre-existing Structures):**
The monks of Montecassino arrived in the Palentine area and the mountains between Avezzano, Luco, and Capistrello, establishing the monastery of Sanctae Mariae de Luco, which later became the seat of the prestigious Cassinese prepositura of Marsica. Around the year 970, this prepositura included the monasterum Sanctae Mariae in Cesis.
The first evidence of a church dedicated to the Virgin in the fiefdom of Pietraquaria, under the Count of Albe, is recorded in the Catalog of Barons in 1188 (cf. Jamison E., Catalogus Baronum, p.215, n. 1110) and in a document by Clement III from the same year. This document confirms Bishop Eliano of Marsi’s rights to revenues and properties, including the churches of S. Mariae, S. Joannis, and S. Petri in Aquaria, proving the existence of a church dedicated to St. Mary before the destruction of the Pietraquaria fiefdom.
Records disappear until the 17th century when, in 1614, some restorations were carried out in the church.
According to tradition, centuries ago, a mute shepherd boy tending his flock on Mount Salviano saw a mule carrying a painting of the Virgin. She spoke to him, miraculously restoring his hearing and speech. The boy rushed to tell the priest and other townspeople, who, upon visiting the site, found the painting of the Madonna, leading them to dedicate a temple to her.
In 1891, Bishop Enrico De Dominicis of Marsi established the Spiritual Congregation under the title of the Immaculate Virgin Mary of Pietraquaria. In 1978, Monsignor Domenico Valeri proclaimed the Most Holy Mary of Pietraquaria the patroness of Avezzano.
The sanctuary was granted indulgences multiple times. The first documented indulgence was by Clement XI on July 13, 1735, granting a plenary indulgence to those who confessed, received communion, and visited the sanctuary on St. Gaetano’s feast day. Later, Clement XIII granted indulgences for seven years on May 4, 1763, for the feast on the fourth Sunday of May. Finally, Pius VII, on April 21, 1818, allowed the recitation of the Office with the Holy Mass on the fourth Sunday of May in the “ut ad nives” rite of double major rank.
A document in the Marsi diocesan archives shows that patronage over the Pietraquaria church was royal, not municipal, as per a decurional resolution of August 27, 1852 (cf. fondo C/81 fasc.1604). This status persisted until 1934 when the 1852 resolution was renewed (cf. fondo C/96 fasc.2422).
1 Via Pietraquaria, Pietraquaria, AQ 67051, 67051 Avezzano AQ, Italy
