The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, a place of Marian devotion in Monte Giberto

The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie (Our Lady of Graces) is a place of great spirituality for the people of Monte Giberto and the neighbouring villages.

This Sanctuary has an ancient history dating back to the Middle Ages and was built largely thanks to the generosity and devotion of the population.

We can admire many valuable works of art, including frescoes, paintings, and precious objects, but first and foremost, the Statue of Our Lady of Graces, much venerated by the faithful.

Let's discover the history of this important Marian Sanctuary, its works of art and the celebrations dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie.

The origin of the Marian cult dates back to Roman times when Emperor Constantine granted tolerance to Christians in 313 AD.

Thanks to this concession, Christians began to build their own places of worship. In 387 A.D., Emperor Theodosius, in order not to let pagan temples fall into ruin, authorised Christians to use them.

Thus, many pagan places of worship and small buildings near Roman villas became churches. Many churches also sprang up in the countryside.

Among these new places of Christian worship, many were dedicated to the Mother of Jesus.

The place that most represents Marian spirituality in Le Marche is the Sanctuary of Loreto, guardian of one of the most precious testimonies of Christianity in the world: the Holy House of Nazareth.

The city that has most influenced the culture of the Marca Fermana since ancient times is Fermo, where the most important place of worship is dedicated to the Assumption.

The presence of the Marian cult in the largest and most influential cities has led to the foundation of churches dedicated to Mary throughout the territory.

According to written sources, in the early Middle Ages, two small churches, Santa Margherita and Santa Maria, existed in the territory of Monte Giberto.

In addition, ancient deeds of the municipality of Monte Giberto dating back to 1550 provide information on the confraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The present church was built in 1757 on an earlier 12th-century church.

The three-nave building, designed by architect Giambattista Vassalli from Lugano, combines elements of the late Baroque style with classical elements.

The stucco decorations were entrusted to established artists Giamperio Gabuti from Lugano and Giovanni Campana from Ravenna.

The population, driven by great devotion, financed the work with offerings and donations of precious objects in gold and silver.

At that time, the confraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie numbered 39 people, including 10 priests.

The Sanctuary, dedicated to Mary, was built mainly thanks to the generosity of the people who wanted a large and beautiful building.

In 1798, Napoleon's soldiers arrived, and the situation worsened for all the confraternities.

The soldiers requisitioned many precious objects, and the confraternities were suppressed. The Sanctuary, however, remained open for the faithful to gather to recite the Rosary.

In 1815, Napoleonic rule ended, and the Papal Roman State returned.

At that time, the confraternity of Maria Ss.ma delle Grazie informed the archbishop of Fermo that it did not have the funds to maintain the church.

At the behest of Archbishop Cesare Brancadoro, a local commission was formed to collect funds for the church. Once again, many were the people's free offerings.

Don Nicola Arpili arrived at the Sanctuary in 1839 and remained at Monte Giberto until his death in 1901.

Don Nicola, a priest much appreciated by the people, worked on the church's restoration. Thanks to him, the chaplain's house was extended adjacent to the Sanctuary.

In 1870, Don Arpili procured the church bell, and a few years later, he had the façade and porch renovated.

In addition, in 1899, the priest procured two golden crowns for the statue of Our Lady of Grace, which is kept on the high altar of the Sanctuary. 

The priests who followed Don Nicola Arpili planned further restorations, but these were not carried out due to the two wars.

After the Second World War, restoration work resumed, financed by religious personalities and the faithful. Offerings from the population contributed to the restoration of the floor and roof.

In addition, the statue of the Virgin and Child was decorated with two new crowns.

The most precious work preserved inside the Sanctuary is the Madonna delle Grazie statue, to which the Sanctuary is dedicated.

The statue represents the Madonna carrying the God Child in her arms. It is kept under a canopy on the high altar.

This work is attributed to an artist of the 14th-century Pisan school.

The statue combines elegant and classical elements, such as the Virgin's cloak, with elements linked to popular language, such as the Child's foot arranged for the faithful to kiss.

Sources attribute several miracles to this statue. The most important one, considered authentic by the competent ecclesiastical authority, occurred in 1703 when a tear was recognised after an earthquake.

Among other graces, two parents who saw their dead Child come back to life. The Child was brought to the feet of Our Lady and revived in his mother's arms.

The Sanctuary preserves several valuable works of art.

Behind the altar, we can admire a restored canvas depicting the Nativity of Mary. It is a copy of the famous painting by Annibale Carracci, now in the Louvre.

The author of this painting could be the Gibertese artist Gilberto Todini, the probable author of two other large canvases in the presbytery.

These canvases date back to the second half of the 18th century. They are "The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple" and "The Visitation to St. Elisabeth".

The nave's apse and ceiling are decorated with valuable frescoes and paintings.

The frescoes in the apse, executed by Ludovico Catini after 1916, depict Marian images with floral Art Nouveau elements.

The ceiling paintings, the work of the Fermo painter Armando Moreschini, depict the Marriage of the Virgin, the Annunciation, the Assumption, and the Coronation.

In the sacristy is a very special and rare wooden crucifix representing the dying Christ with his eyes open.

The sacristy also holds an effigy of 'Little Mary' and a collection of ex-votos—objects offered to Our Lady in thanksgiving for answered prayers.

The collection testifies to the population's great devotion to Mary.

Finally, the Sanctuary houses a valuable antique organ from 1830, made by Angelo Morettini of Perugia. The organ, which is still in use, is used for concerts and musical events.

Near the organ, small stairs lead to a door that opens onto a splendid terrace. From south to west and north, one can admire a marvellous panorama of the Marca Fermana hills, almost 360°.

The terrace is not accessible to the public. Still, it is used for the beautiful fireworks display organised for the feast of 8 September in honour of Our Lady of Graces.