Church of the Madonna della Neve

Sanctuary dating back to the Romanesque-Pisan period, at the top of a small hill in Lacona

Where	Lacona – Via di Santa Maria (Capoliveri)
How to get there	In Lacona, turn left onto Via dei Vigneti from the provincial road, then turn left again onto Via di Santa Maria until you reach the hill that hosts the Church of Madonna delle Neve.

The Church of Madonna delle Neve today features typical characteristics of the 18th century, but the original structure dates back to the 12th century, during the full Romanesque-Pisan period.

The sanctuary, very simple, consists of a single nave with a rectangular floor plan, a belfry with a pyramidal roof, and the sacristy, which was built on the remains of a hermitage.

The name of the church recalls the miracle that occurred in Rome around 350 AD during the papacy of Pope Liberius, when on August 5, the Esquiline Hill was covered with a heavy snowfall, and a church, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, was later built on that spot.

Regarding its history, the Romanesque church was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century and since then has undergone numerous structural changes, leading to the expansion of the facade and various other modifications, both internal and external. The sanctuary was entrusted to the care of the hermits and was plundered many times, especially during the French and English military occupations at the end of the 18th century.

The restoration in 1951 uncovered the ancient remains of the Romanesque building, such as the old wall on the southern side characterized by typical rows of well-cut stones and traces of a secondary door on the central wall.

Today, the church is under the care of the parish of Capoliveri, which opens the entrance to the public only on special festive occasions.