Sanctuary of Santa Maria Maggiore – Manfredonia (FG)

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the oldest and most venerated places of worship in the area, located along the historic Via Sacra Langobardorum, the route taken by pilgrims heading to the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo. Built in the 11th century, the sanctuary was consecrated in 1117 by Pope Paschal II, and has undergone centuries of restorations and modifications, while maintaining its spiritual centrality intact.

Architecture and Structure

The church, with a three-nave plan covered by depressed arch vaults, features a solid and austere structure. The vaults rest on quadrangular pillars, which delineate the sacred space and create an atmosphere of recollection. Adjacent to the church, the bell tower reveals a layering of architectural styles, the result of subsequent interventions over the centuries. Beneath the church floor, there are extensive undercrofts that extend beyond the perimeter walls, used in the past as a burial place for the deceased.

One of the most significant aspects of the church is the continuous succession of restorations, which have transformed its original appearance. Among the most notable modifications is the relocation of the main door to the west facade, following one of the restorations carried out over the centuries. A description from 1777 testifies that the church at that time was covered by a painted wooden ceiling and contained a baptismal font and as many as eight altars.

The Cult and Iconography of the Madonna Odegitria

One of the artistic and spiritual treasures of the sanctuary is a painted panel depicting the Madonna Odegitria, an ancient Marian icon widely venerated in the Eastern Christian tradition. Although the panel has been extensively overpainted, the face of the Virgin and the saints at her sides are still in a good state of preservation. The panel dates to the first half of the 13th century, but some stylistic features suggest it may have been created as early as the end of the 12th century.

The Crypt and the Ex Votos

The sanctuary is also famous for its crypt, used to house relics and as a burial place. The painted tablets offered as ex votos by the faithful in gratitude for graces received, once placed along the church walls and in the crypt, are currently preserved in the Cathedral of Manfredonia. Unfortunately, the collection is not open to visitors, but it represents a precious archive of popular faith and devotion.

History and Restorations

In 1632, the Chapter of Ischitella temporarily moved to the church of Sant’Eustachio, as Santa Maria Maggiore was in a state of decay. Reconstruction work, which lasted until 1636, was necessary to restore the sanctuary to its former splendor. Over the centuries, the church underwent various restoration interventions, culminating in a complete transformation in the 17th century, when it was reconsecrated in 1675.

The importance of the sanctuary never diminished, not even with the founding of Manfredonia in 1263 by King Manfred, when the city of Siponto suffered severe damage. The Marian cult linked to Santa Maria Maggiore intensified especially in the 17th century, thanks to the work of Archbishop Dionisio de Robertis and later Vincenzo Maria Orsini, the future Pope Benedict XIII.

A Sanctuary Rich in Tradition

In addition to being an important pilgrimage center, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Maggiore is an integral part of the region’s spiritual fabric. The numerous testimonies of miracles and prodigies attributed to the Madonna of Siponto are collected in historical texts such as “Zodiaco di Maria” by Montorio (1715), which recounts miraculous events that occurred over the centuries.

The sanctuary continues to be a point of reference for the local community and pilgrims who, following the ancient paths of devotion, pay homage to one of the most important sacred sites in the Foggia area.

other raw information

It is the main church of Ischitella and is called Santa Maria Maggiore or the Mother Church. Over the centuries, it has undergone several restorations that have modified its original structure. It is a three-nave church, covered by depressed arch vaults resting on quadrangular pillars. Next to the church is a bell tower showing superimpositions from various periods. Beneath the floor, there are extensive undercrofts that extend beyond the perimeter walls of the church itself. These crypts were used to bury the deceased. Attached to the church is a bell tower showing superimpositions from various periods. Over the centuries, in fact, the Mother Church has undergone various restorations, and during one of these, it was decided to move the main door to the west facade, while it was certainly originally on the east facade. A description from 1777 reveals that at that time it was covered by a painted wooden ceiling and contained a baptismal font and eight altars. The church has been completely transformed, so little or nothing remains of the ancient sacred building; that it is contemporary with the first inhabited nucleus of Ischitella is suggested both by its site, central to the medieval town, and by some rare elements still traceable in the masonry structures. Transformations in the 17th century, up to the consecration of the upper church in 1675. Description: The panel, extensively overpainted, follows the iconographic scheme of the Madonna Odegitria. The intact parts are the face of the Virgin and the saints arranged, two on each side, along the frame. Dated to the first half of the 13th century, the dating could be moved back to the end of the 12th century based on the figures of the saints. Image: Painting
Original location of the Sanctuary: On the walls of the upper church and in the crypt. Type of ex votos: Painted tablets Current preservation: The ex votos are currently kept in the Cathedral of Manfredonia. The collection is not open to visitors. Reference to publications or printed descriptions: Mirizzi, Il santuario di S. Maria Maggiore, 1993, pp. 187-222.
Montorio, Zodiaco di Maria, 1715 reports a series of miracles and prodigious acts performed by the Madonna of Siponto.
1632 – 1636 (restoration of the entire property)

On March 11, 1632, the Chapter of Ischitella was functioning in the ancient church of S. Eustachio, because the church of S. Maria Maggiore was <in ruins> and was being rebuilt. The work lasted a long time, and the canons returned to gather in the sacristy of the church of S. Maria Maggiore on December 6, 1636. The sanctuary stands along the Via Sacra Langobardorum, i.e., the pilgrims’ road, traveled by those heading to the sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo. Built in the 11th century, it was consecrated in 1117 by Paschal II. In the first half of the 13th century, Siponto suffered considerable damage, and in 1263, Manfred began to build the new city, Manfredonia, and transferred the inhabitants, but Santa Maria Maggiore continued to be a pilgrimage destination and place of worship. In the 17th century, the Marian cult grew, especially through the work of Archbishop Dionisio de Robertis and later Vincenzo Maria Orsini (Pope Benedict XIII).
February 14, 1954: decree of the Chapter of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.