Sanctuary of Maria Santissima of Custonaci
Discover the effigy of the Virgin and the works of the Baroque age
The artistic soul of Custonaci is inseparably linked to the devotion towards the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus. Here, art becomes a profound expression of centuries-old Marian worship, so much so that Custonaci can be identified as a Civitas Mariae, a Marian city.
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Art and faith, an inseparable union
In the heart of the village, art comes to life through the depiction of the Madonna of Custonaci, a delicate panel painting from 1521 portraying the Virgin enthroned as she nurses the Infant Jesus. Framed by angels and fluted vases filled with wheat, the Madonna enthroned with the Infant is the focal point of the village’s Christian devotion. The Marian Sanctuary, dating back to the mid-16th century and home to this sacred image, symbolizes the region’s ancient worship of Mary and stands as a pilgrimage site.
The church features a facade adorned with pointed arches, while inside, the sanctuary’s apse rises majestically, housing a baroque marble tribune decorated with an Immaculate Virgin sculpted in the Gagini school style, alongside four wooden statues by the sculptor Pietro Cannamela. The sanctuary is further enriched by frescoes by Domenico La Bruna, paintings by Giuseppe Felici, and the ornamental work of Carlo Righetto, creating a grand baroque symphony of art and faith.
Marian devotion beyond the Sanctuary
Within the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima di Custonaci, the Art and Faith Museum preserves treasures from the 15th century, including a precious wooden shrine housing the Madonna of Custonaci, along with processional banners, sculptures, paintings, and more. The wooden chest used in the famed "transportations" of the painting of the Madonna of Custonaci to Erice stands as a distinctive element of this tradition, bearing witness to the widespread devotion to the Madonna throughout the surrounding area.
The presence of the Madonna permeates the Custonaci territory, from the ‘Regina Pacis’ statue in Cerriolo Park to the ‘Stella Maris’, placed thirteen metres deep in the waters off Mount Cofano Nature Reserve. In Cerriolo Park, in particular, a unique experience of faith is revealed through a Via Crucis with marble stations.
The Landing from the Sea: Between Historical Reenactment and Legend
The eternal bond between Custonaci and the Madonna is celebrated every year with the evocative ‘Landing.’ According to tradition, the painting of the Madonna arrived from the sea aboard a Venetian or French ship, surviving a shipwreck and landing at Cala Bukutu. To celebrate this event, during the festivities dedicated to the Holy Mother in August, a sailing ship arrives in the bay of Cornino, illuminated by fireworks, bringing a replica of the painting ashore. After the landing, the faithful carry the image in a torchlit procession to the Sanctuary, reverently reenacting this ancient event.
The sea is a mirror of infinity and a guardian of stories: it speaks of fishermen at sunset, of rocks smoothed by time, and of hidden coves where the water turns to gold as the sun goes down.
In Custonaci, the sea is more than just a horizon—it is breath, melody, and a promise of freedom.
Must-see
Museum of Art and Faith
It houses the artistic collection dedicated to Maria SS di Custonaci
Stella Maris Statue
In the waters of the Mount Cofano Nature Reserve
Cerriolo Park (Statue of Regina Pacis)
The green area of Custonaci adorned with flora and works of art
