A Greek cross church with a presbytery raised by two steps. There are two altars at the ends of the transept. Two doors on either side of the altar provide external access and entry to a sacristy. The church stands isolated and was built without any adjoining structures. It was constructed in place of a small chapel later used as a hayloft. The churchyard is elevated and surrounds two sides of the church. The ancient route naturally led toward the main facade, now obsolete and overshadowed by the churchyard. On the left side, a plaque commemorates 1971 as the year of restoration by the Superintendency. On the same side, at the center of the transept, the outline of a door is visible, likely an original or alternative entrance. A small chamber with a grate from which, according to legend, the Virgin Mary leaned out and called the young girl Cecilia. An ex-voto, now inside the sanctuary to the left of the miraculous image, referring to a miracle that occurred on July 6, 1719, shows the original arrangement. The image was originally outside, with an altar below and a lamp hanging on the right side. Now the interior features a Greek cross and a central dome with three altars and a beautiful brick facade, while the other walls are made of stone. On either side of the presbytery are the sacristy and the bell tower. In the left corner of the facade stood the bell-ringer’s house, demolished in 1946. Additionally, since the sanctuary’s origins, there has been a building opposite the church, known as the Sanctuary House, which is believed to have housed the custodian and rector, as well as pilgrims. Description: A very faded fresco depicting the Mater Misericordiae with her mantle open over the faithful; on either side of her face, two angels emerge from the clouds in adoration. (16th century) First used: in the year 1719 Image: Painting Original location of the Sanctuary: Near the image. Notes on the collection: In the inventory compiled by Don Panicucci and kept in the diocesan archive of Perugia, dated December 20, 1815, there is a list of all the votive offerings near the image. Don Francesco Gambacorta, the first rector of the Sanctuary, also compiled one on July 31, 1728. Types of ex-votos: Lamps, Painted tablets, Goldsmithing objects, Real or represented prostheses, Others Current preservation: Today, some chains and rings, arranged like a crown, are placed on the Virgin’s head; others of little value are kept in the sanctuary, though many have been lost. Many devotees left offerings, which were used to create numerous works for the sanctuary, including interior furnishings and the Rector’s House. Many faithful also donated land and proceeds. The bishop had two alms boxes placed inside, which were opened weekly by trusted individuals. Within ten years of the devotion’s beginning, enough money was collected to build the church and bell tower. The offerings were also used for works in Perugia, such as expanding the public library and work on the Cathedral. The diocesan archive of Perugia holds Panicucci’s writing about the first miracle. A book of miracles was compiled by Don Francesco Gambacorta, the first rector of the Sanctuary of Soccorso. 1719  (construction of the entire property)

In 1719, after the miraculous event of the sacred image of the Virgin Mary speaking to a shepherdess named Cecilia, the construction of the church began. According to Don Panicucci’s memoirs, by the late 1700s, the sanctuary had lost many pilgrims, and by the second half of the 1800s, after the rector’s death and the lack of new appointments, there were no services by 1896; thus, help was sought from the Bishop of Perugia. Related to the first miracle that occurred to Cecilia, who, while passing by with her flock, was called by the Virgin. As the Madonna commanded, she went to the Villa to see the parish priest Don Sante Billi and told him to clean around the image because that was the Virgin’s wish. Don Sante ignored her, but when he couldn’t lift the consecrated host during Mass, he believed. This happened on March 10, 1719; from then on, the sanctuary’s construction began. This sanctuary is also called the Madonna of the Walnuts because the feast is celebrated in September, the time of their harvest, and because there were, and still are, walnut trees nearby. During the feast, no visitor forgets to buy the walnuts of the Madonna del Soccorso. Among the locals, it was said that the Madonna del Soccorso performs a miracle a day. In 1731, Don Sante Billi died and was buried in the sanctuary. Cecilia died in 1723 and was placed under the altar now dedicated to St. Joseph. July 27, 1780, Brief of Pius IV: privileges on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Upon learning of the miracle involving the young Cecilia, Bishop Ansidei went to the holy site, ordered Mass to be celebrated there, and commanded the restoration of the small chapel. After the first miracle, Bishop Ansidei immediately appointed a rector or custodian and ordered them to reside and celebrate Mass there. Even in 1896, after the last chaplain’s death, the people of Soccorso appealed to the Bishop for the appointment of a rector. The rector did not depend on the parish priest of Villa but directly on the Bishop. The image was originally inside a hayloft-storage room owned by a family. Later, a Pious Union was established. The administrator of the property became the rector of the sanctuary, first on behalf of the curia, which collected alms, and later for the parish of St. Valentino d’Antria. Currently, the Sanctuary belongs to the parish of St. Valentino, while the Sanctuary House belongs to the Archbishop’s Curia.

Piazza del Santuario, 06063 Soccorso PG, Italy