Descrizione
Its connection with Saint Maria Goretti makes Corinaldo a world-renowned religious centre. Born here in 1890, Maria led a simple and devout childhood, before moving with her family to the Pontine Marshes. It was there, in 1902, that the young girl was tragically murdered whilst defending her purity. Her canonisation, which took place in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, established her as a symbol of forgiveness and deep faith.
The Diocesan Shrine of Saint Maria Goretti, formerly known as the Church of Saint Augustine, is the spiritual heart of the village. Built between 1740 and 1756, it features an elegant brick façade embellished with pilasters and limestone details. The interior, with a single nave and a Latin cross plan, is a refined example of Baroque architecture, with the play of light enhancing the dome and the lantern. Among the works of art housed within, highlights include a 17th-century copy of the Annunciation by Federico Barocci, a Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew by Cesare Maggeri and a Madonna and Child with Saints by Carlo Maratta. Above the entrance door, a wooden choir loft houses a fine organ dating from 1767, the work of the renowned Gaetano Antonio Callido.
The high altar, carved from white Carrara marble, features a wooden statue of Saint Maria Goretti and a silver urn containing the bone from the arm with which the young girl attempted to defend herself against her attacker. Also laid to rest here are Mamma Assunta, the Saint’s mother, and Alessandro Serenelli, her repentant murderer, whose story of redemption is an integral part of the message of forgiveness that Maria left as her legacy. The journey of discovery into the Saint’s life continues with a visit to her birthplace, in Contrada Pregiagna. This farmhouse, nestled in the countryside, still retains some of the Goretti family’s original furnishings. A short walk away, the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Incancellata, where Maria used to go to pray as a child, brings this intimate and moving journey to a close.
