Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito in Leni

In the beautiful setting ofSalina islandand particularly in locality Valdichiesa, There is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito, a place that gathers many faithful around it that tells the devotion of a population but is also linked to a particular legend. For those who are in holiday in Salina it's worth arranging a small detour to be able to see this little XNUMXth-century gem.

History of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito

The official construction date of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito in Leni is that of the 1969th century, but in reality the church - which only became a sanctuary in XNUMX - was built on the ruins of places of worship that already existed on the site previously.

In particular, the first small chapel was built in the fifth century by a Byzantine monk who wanted to build it to counter the cult of Demeter which was still very strong among the farmers of the area: to make it more beautiful, he also designed the image of the Madonna. That chapel was later destroyed and rebuilt in the XNUMXth century when the image drawn by the monk was also discovered.

Around the eighteenth century, then, the church was completely rebuilt at the behest of theEmperor Constans who thus hoped to create a bulwark of Christianity against the spread of atheism. After this great interest from the faithful, however, in the following centuries the island depopulated and also the church of the Madonna del Terzito was forgotten. According to legendthen, in 1622, the image of the Madonna designed by the first Buddhist monk was found and the faithful decided to bring the church back to life.

The architecture and works of art present in the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito

The current structure of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito is therefore the result of various rebuildings that have taken place over time. Today it has a Latin cross plan and three naves, with a design that recalls what was the typical architecture of the nineteenth century.

Many works of art that are present in its entirety, including a beautiful one wooden statue depicting the Madonna and which is much revered by the faithful. Then there is a marble altar that dates back to the end of the XNUMXth century and behind which it is positioned A fabric, which instead is from the first half of the eighteenth century, which depicts the Virgin holding a bell in her right hand, a symbol of the protection she exercises over all Aeolian Islands.

There are also other finely crafted paintings, all dating back to the XNUMXth century, such as the Martyrdom of San Bartolomeo or the Lamentation of the dead Christ.

What you can do in the surroundings or inside the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito

There are many things to do in Salina and which can make a trip to the island to discover the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito even more complete.

For example, many consider a visit to the unmissable house of Pablo Neruda, even if it should be specified that in reality the poet never lived there but it is the house on the sea which was used for the filming of the film Il Postino by Massimo Troisi. A short distance from the sanctuary, then, it is also possible to discover the Rinella village, a small fishing village where time seems to have stopped and you can savor the slow pace of life as the frenetic city has never known. Another important town on the island is that of Malfa, with its colorful houses is really a very picturesque place. Here the famous is produced Malvasia of Salina which is really worth tasting!

Recommended activities for a tour of the Aeolian Islands

How to get to Leni

The best way to get to Leni and visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito is theauto, to be used after reaching theSalina island by ferry. On the island, then, it is possible to move around by car, a scooter or the local bus line service. With the train, however, the reference stations are those of Capo d'Orlando-Naso and that of Patti, from which you then have to take the ferry to reach Salina.