The Church of the Addolorata

The church, dedicated to the Holy Mary of the Seven Sorrows, or more simply called the Church of Sorrows, is one of the most intriguing churches of the old town. The Sanctuary was originally founded by the Friars of the Sorrows in 1670 on a rocky sandstone ridge just out of town, incorporating a little shrine. Though the exterior is rather simple, the single nave interior of the church is almost entirely covered by baroque decorations and stuccoes by Serpotta. Legions of white angels invite the visitor to admire luxuriant plants and open shells which symbolize the fertility and the Precious Fruit of the Womb of the Virgin Mary. The apse, which is entirely hewn out of the rock, is separated from the central nave by a triumphal arch. An 18^th century wooden statue of the Madonna of the Sorrows enhances the main altar. During the holy week of Easter, on Good Friday evening, many of the faithful converge here to accompany, with traditional songs, the solemn procession of the “vara” (Sicilian word for coffin) of the dying Chri­st followed by Our Lady of Sorrows. While the church was in construction, two ancient cisterns presumably of Greek origins were discovered in the rocks. A third was hewn out of the rock and the three caverns were used as sepulchral chambers by the friars. Nowadays the crypts are in use as a little museum with exhibits of the confraternity.