La Sicilia it is a place that has a lot to do with Heaven: crystal clear beaches, archaeological sites of value, good food, And a warm and welcoming sun. The splendid views, as well as the natural wonders, are also embellished by the churches and sanctuaries. One of these is the particular Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tindari, which preserves, like many other works, a unique and exotic style. Let's discover this special architectural jewel together!
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tindari: the history
A stretch of coast that fascinates, thanks to the skilful combination of art and myth: this is it Tindari. This wonderful hamlet of Patti, in the province of Messina, conquers every visitor for its luxuriant nature, but not only. Its history has its roots in ancient times: it was founded in 396 BC by Dionysus I, tyrant of Syracuse. It was a colony of the Magna Grecia, and was built in order to face the attacks of the Carthaginians. Its original name was Tyndaris, in honor of the King of Sparta, Tindaro.
With the Roman domination, the ancient Tyndaris it became an important naval base, and subsequently saw various peoples interested in its conquest alternate. It was invaded first by Byzantines and then give it Arabi, who razed it to the ground in 836. The Roman colonization, on the other hand, has left considerable architectural testimonies, which today are concentrated in the heart of the archaeological area. You can admire the Theater, the Basilica, the Baths, the residences and the patrician houses. These represent a happy example of artistic polychromy, with colorful mosaics still well preserved. Last but not least, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Tindari stands majestically in all its splendor. Seen as the main attraction in the area, the Sanctuary is divided into two parts, one ancient and one modern.
The Sanctuary of Tindari, between the ancient and the modern
The ancient Sanctuary has a limited capacity, therefore in the past it was unable to contain the crowds of pilgrims devoted to the Black Madonna. It was built on the ruins of the first Sanctuary, and contains several testimonies of the past. Some reports contain various information about the raids followed by the Arabs. In this documentation, however, it appears that, among the very few houses spared, there was also the church. Subsequently, the Sanctuary of Tindari was enlarged, and rooms were annexed for the accommodation of the personnel assigned to worship.
The year is carved on the clew-key of the entrance portal 1598, possibly the year this was completed. This place has undergone, through these four centuries of life, several restorations, but substantially has retained its peculiar beauty. By 1953, the existing Shrine had become unable to accommodate pilgrims. In fact, some projects had been devised, but without offering a concrete solution. Monsignor Pullano identified a remedy for this complication: he arranged for the excavation of the rock and the demolition of some rooms, but he left the ancient church intact.
The legend of the black Madonna of Tindari
The magnificent Sanctuary of Tindari has, as is well known, one very particular statue of the Virgin Mary. The origins of the Byzantine statue of the black Madonna are linked to an interesting legend. The sculpture, carried by sea, prevented the ship from leaving after it had found refuge in the bay, to escape a violent storm. The statue had left the East to escape iconoclastic persecution.
The sailors deposited the cargo ashore, and only when they also brought the statue there was the ship able to return to sea. This was then brought to the hill above, inside the Sanctuary of Tindari, in fact. The Madonna is black, and has an elongated face, not easily found in other religious statues. Its uniqueness is certainly worth a nice trip to Tindari, to fully enjoy the beauty of the art that houses it!
