Santuario della Madonnetta

About

The construction started in May 4, 1695 and it was opened to the public in August 15, 1696. The same day, with the decree of the Senate of the Republic solicited by Fr. Carlo Giacinto, the city of Genova was consecrated to Mary in a solemn ceremony in the Cathedral of St. Lawrence. To emphasize the spiritual connection of the Madonna to the city of Genoa, he placed in the apse a wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin blessing the city. In April 18 1706, Msgr. Giambattista Costa, in behalf of the Archbishop of Genoa Card. Lorenzo Fieschi, consecrated the temple dedicating it to the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God, Immaculate Virgin, Assumed into heaven and Queen of the angels and saints. The Santuary is also a point of central reference for the Genoese artistic history because it was considered as a prototype of the churches of Liguria in 1700. However, the architecture distinguished himself above all for its mystical symbols that in a wonderful way translated the beauty and the presence of God. The structure of the Sanctuary is octagonal, a variation of the Baroqueellipse. Alongside the octagon there are six arcs and chapels in the corresponding doorways. The real attraction of the Madonetta is the monumental Crib-Scene of the Nativity which consists of a hundred of wooden sculptures wearing costumes of that epoch (17-18 cent), a product of Genoese anonymous artists.In 1977, after seven years of work, the crib was organized in permanent mode under the church behind the chapel of the Pietà. It covered the area of 100 sq. meter. At the left side is the court of the Magi (newsboy, soldiers, horses) leading towards the city of Jerusalem and heading towards the grotto of Nativity.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes