Church of the Madonna delle Grazie

The Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie is located in the Valle dei Pinelli, within the municipality of Capoliveri, just a few hundred meters from the town and the coast.

Although the original structure of the Church is medieval, the building reflects both architecturally and decoratively the Baroque art that began to appear towards the end of the 16th century.

During the 20th century, the church underwent several restoration works, mainly to consolidate the structure damaged by the bombings during the war.

The church consists of a single Latin cross nave with two chapels and a transept, a belfry covered with an eastern-style dome, and a sacristy that once housed rooms for the hermits. The interiors are in Baroque style, featuring a beautiful wooden coffered ceiling and the precious frescoes by the Elban painter Eugenio Allori.

The sanctuary houses the painting of the Madonna of Silence, a true gem of 16th-century art, created by Marcello Venusti, a pupil of the famous Michelangelo. The name of the artwork comes from the gesture of the young Saint John the Baptist, who places his left index finger on his mouth, indicating that silence must be observed so as not to wake the Baby Jesus.

The painting, an oil on panel of small dimensions (45x56 cm), gave rise to many legends, including those fueled by sailors and miners who turned to the Virgin of Grazie, attributing miraculous virtues to the work.

The Sanctuary can only be visited on special occasions, such as the feast of the Madonna delle Grazie, which is celebrated on December 8th.

On the occasion of the Jubilee 2025, the Church of Madonna delle Grazie has been designated as a Jubilee church, becoming a pilgrimage destination during the Holy Year.