The building as it can be seen today shows traces of the original structure from the 13th century, but much of it dates back to the 15th century: the main external portal, moved to the main facade in 1621. Decorative bands with fusaroles, pearls, and geometric patterns. The ceiling is vaulted with gold background, supported by a 15th-century wall capital. The marble altar of the Madonna is located in the center, flanked by the figures of the four evangelists carved in high relief, the entire work is attributed to Andrea Bregno (1414/1503). Description: The Madonna tilts her head, bringing it close to the cheek of the Child, who with his right arm embraces the Mother’s neck and with his left hand grasps the neckline of her dress. They have a golden-yellow halo around their heads. The author of the fresco is unknown, as is its historical-artistic placement. According to some, it is a work of pure Roman art from the 13th century; others, however, consider it a late Byzantine work with influences from the Venetian School. Recently, the signature of Antonio Vivarini, a Venetian painter who died in 1476, was read on the neck of the Child’s garment. The altar with the fresco is framed by a white marble tribune from the 15th century, erected by Prince Antonio Colonna immediately after the miraculous appearance of the image of the Madonna of Good Counsel. ICCD – MNATP, Sgrò Entry into use: in the year 1467 Image: Painting
Notes on the collection: The collection includes about 3000 items. Types of ex-votos: Tablets or plaques with inscriptions, Painted tablets, Jewelry items, Anthropomorphic figurines, Real or represented prostheses, Photographs, Other Current preservation: The ex-votos are displayed in the museum attached to the sanctuary.
From April 27 (two days after the miraculous appearance of the fresco) to August 14, 1467, the town notary recorded 159 miracles in a register. In 1787, the collection, preserved in the sanctuary’s archive, was exhibited to the Sacred Congregation of Rites in the Cause of the Proper Office, examined by Gaetano and Callisto Marini and recognized by them as contemporary, authentic, and entirely credible (Callisto Marini, Critical examination of the monuments pertaining to the appearance of the Madonna of Good Counsel, Rome 1779.
The date refers to the Apparition of the Image of the Madonna with Child that occurred on April 25, 1467.
There is a report by Father Ambrogio da Cori about the miraculous discovery of the Madonna on the church wall (April 25, 1467). According to the legend written by Coriolano in 1481, the vision of the holy image would have occurred to the entire community on the feast of St. Mark, without specifying the place of origin, and other 15th-16th century versions speak only of the apparition without any reference to the origin from Albania. Instead, only in 1630 Pope Urban VIII, arriving in Genazzano to implore help against the plague, says that the Madonna had come from distant lands. Since then, the place of origin is specified, first, in 1681, it is said to come from Slavonia, from 1748 the location of origin is specified as Scutari, a variant that is then confirmed in subsequent versions of the legend. According to the traditional legend, the image would have been brought from Scutari (Albania) to Genazzano by the hands of angels and followed by two pilgrims named Giorgi and De Sclavis. Even today, this tradition is passed down from generation to generation and is very much alive among Albanians who, coming as pilgrims to the sanctuary, invoke Mary with the ancient title of Lady of Albania.
There are two inscriptions: one on the tympanum of the tribune and the other on that of the portal of the facade. The inscription on the tympanum of the tribune recalls the miraculous event of the appearance of the fresco: DIVINITUS APPARUIT / HEC IMAGO A.D.M. / CCC.LXVII. XXV APRILIS. The same event is also remembered on the tympanum of the church portal, where a bas-relief depicts the Virgin with Child, in a similar attitude to that of the fresco, but placed within a medallion supported by two flying angels: M.CCC.LXVII. SUB. ANNIS. INCARNATI DER VERBI. FES / TO MARCI. HORA. VESPERI. DEI. GE / NETRICIS. MARIAE. QUAM. IN HUIUS. PHANI / SACELLO. MERMORE. VENERAMI / NI. EX ALTO. FIGURA. PROSPEXIT. ICCD – MNATP, Sgrò.
Urban VIII and subsequent pontiffs.

Corso Cardinal Vannuteli, 2, 00030 Genazzano RM, Italy