Madonna del Carmine

Madonna del Carmine, or the Chiesa della Beata Vergine del Monte Carmelo as it's known locally, is a stunning example of Baroque architecture nestled in the heart of Cerignola, Italy. This historical gem dates back to the 16th century and was constructed by the Carmelite friars who settled in the town in 1576. Over the centuries, this church has not only become a central place of worship but also a significant landmark that tells the rich history of Cerignola and its people.

A Glimpse into the History

The Madonna del Carmine was initially called Maria Santissima del Carmelo fuori le mura and Sant'Anna, reflecting its location outside the ancient borough of Terra Vecchia. The church was built in the 16th century, following the establishment of the Carmelite friars in Cerignola. As the town expanded beyond its medieval boundaries in the 19th century, the church found itself at the heart of the growing city. This shift in the town's layout was marked by the relocation of the municipal offices to the former convent attached to the church. Historical documents attest to the ancient origins of the building and the presence of the Carmelite convent.

In the early 19th century, following the Edict of Saint-Cloud, many religious buildings, including Madonna del Carmine, were transferred to state ownership. The church was elevated to a parish on November 17, 1839, to accommodate the growing population of Cerignola.

The Architectural Marvel

Madonna del Carmine's facade is a masterpiece of Baroque design, realized in two distinct phases. In 1718, Francesco Pignatelli, Duke of Bisaccia, either constructed or reconstructed the central part of the facade, commemorated by a plaque above the main portal. The church suffered significant damage in the 1731 earthquake, and the Pignatelli family likely financed the subsequent restoration. The lateral naves were added later, and the facade was completed with simpler, more austere sections compared to the ornate central part.

The facade is horizontally divided by a cornice that follows the wall's contour, connecting with the lower section adorned with pilasters, capitals, arches, and niches. The central nave's pediment features a plaster bas-relief of the Madonna and Child, linked to the lower level by full arches. The central facade is dominated by a polychrome window, and the top is crowned with four amphorae decorated with garlands in relief, set on a pyramidal base.

In 1902, four plaster statues created by local artist Raiano were placed in the previously empty niches. These statues, arranged clockwise, represent St. John of the Cross, Bishop St. Albert, Pope Benedict XIII, and St. Simon Stock.

The Central Nave

Originally, the Madonna del Carmine was just a chapel attached to the Carmelite convent. The facade was added in 1718, and the building was restored in 1731 after the earthquake. Initially, the church had a single Renaissance-style nave with masonry pillars, round arches, capitals, cornices, and a wooden roof with trusses, replaced in 1891. In 1924, a coffered ceiling of wood and papier-mâché was added. Over time, the Renaissance elements gave way to Baroque style with ornamental capitals, friezes, polychrome marble, and stucco decorations.

The central nave leads to the main altar, set back from its original position and constructed between 1860 and 1900 in Baroque style with polychrome marble. Initially, the altar was topped by a niche with an 18th-century statue of the Madonna, adorned with friezes and a choir of angels. The niche was removed in 1964, replaced by a throne with four angels, and the pillars were clad in marble. Following the Second Vatican Council, the altar table, balustrade, canopy, and steps were removed, and a new central altar and ambo were built, first in wood and later in marble. The dome and arch of the presbytery were decorated with stucco in 1870.

The Lateral Naves

The lateral naves are dedicated to the Immaculate Conception (left nave) and the Sacred Heart (right nave). Constructed between 1758 and 1861, they were built without chapels. These naves also feature Baroque style with round arches, cross vaults, friezes, and decorations. Along the longitudinal walls of the naves are six polychrome marble altars, donated by wealthy individuals and built between 1866 and 1878. The altars on the left are dedicated to St. Anne, St. Alphonsus, and St. Michael, while those on the right are dedicated to St. Joseph, Our Lady of Pompeii, and the Crucifix with Our Lady of Sorrows.

Restoration work in 1933 uncovered some crypts beneath the church. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, inaugurated in 1910, houses the statue of the Sacred Heart and features a niche with a royal throne and crown, now missing. To the right of the chapel is the statue of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The parish was consecrated to the Sacred Heart on June 27, 1919, and the city of Cerignola on November 1, 1927.

The Bell Tower

The construction of the bell tower took 17 years, from 1862 to 1879. The initial design by architect Salvatore Strafile was rejected by the confraternity and its prior, Federico Reale, who then took over the project. The bell tower, designed with a square base and a spire with chamfered corners, required a contribution from the municipality, granted on May 11, 1876. In return, the municipality installed a transparent clock or sundial on the south side. The tower is built with precious hammered limestone and has a wrought-iron railing by Giuseppe Borraccino. Originally topped with a cross, it was replaced with a cross-shaped iron structure after becoming unstable during wartime. In 1880, three bells of different sizes were installed, bearing the inscription Vincenzo Stagnì 1850, suggesting they came from another bell tower. Another small bell, likely from the old chapel and dated 1635, is placed in an oculus-shaped niche.

The interior of the bell tower features four concrete ramps connected by iron steps, accessible via a spiral staircase in the first sacristy. A bridge from one of the numerous niches leads to the central nave's roof, from where iron stairs provide access to the dome and lantern. A narrow corridor from here leads to the terrace above the lateral naves and Palazzo Carmelo.

The Commemorative Plaques

The exterior of the church features four commemorative plaques, though only one, the oldest from 1718 commemorating the Pignatelli family's restoration, belongs to the church. The other plaques, related to the city, are placed on the church walls due to its central location. These plaques commemorate the first centenary of the liberties obtained by the Church following Constantine's Edict in 313, the Holy Year of 1925 after which Pope Pius XI introduced the feast of Christ the King, and the consecration of the city to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on November 1, 1927.

The Madonna del Carmine Festival

Every July 16, the statue of the Madonna, dating back to the 18th century, is placed on a cart and paraded through the streets in celebration of the Madonna del Carmine. The statue's dress, made in Naples in 1865, is brown with a white mantle embroidered with stars and gold borders. The cart features eight side supports for children dressed as angels and a front support for the angel thurifer who incenses the Madonna.

The Confraternity

A Cathedral Chapter resolution on October 27, 1822, authorized the establishment of a confraternity at Madonna del Carmine. However, an earlier confraternity, dating back to 1722, is evidenced by a register of the deceased, recording the burial of some members in the church. The new confraternity received a Royal Decree on July 30, 1823, and its Statute was approved by King Ferdinand I of Bourbon on December 2, 1823. The confraternity members' attire includes a habit, white hood and gloves, beige mozzetta, brown and white scapular and cincture, a silver medallion with the effigy of the titular, and an ancient