Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria

San Vito dei Normanni, Italy

Santa Maria della Vittoria, simply called the 'Mother Church', is the most important religious building in the city of San Vito dei Normanni. The largest church in the city shows evidence of previous wars from the fist-sized holes that can be seen in and around the exterior. Built in the shape of a Latin cross with three naves, a transept and a deep chancel. Inside valuable paintings such as the icon of Nicopeia, depicting the Virgin Mary, announcing to Pope Pius V the victory over the Turks, and a silver statue representing St. Vitus. On the right side of the basilica there is the Holy Door, opened in October 1995 during celebrations for the fourth centenary of the church, beginning at the Holy Year Jubilee of the Church. Also the occasion was marked by the presentation of a new wooden altar, together all the furnishings of the sanctuary, of Flavio Pancheri. On October 26, 1996, Pope John Paul II, during a special audience called on the Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni, and solemnly crowned the icon of Our Lady Nicopeia.

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Founded: 1571
Category: Religious sites in Italy

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4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Emily La Baritonessa (16 months ago)
A splendor! Built in the early 1500s and then modified in the 18th century, a jewel of history that deserves to be visited!
florindo taddeo (2 years ago)
Basilica of Santa Maria della Vittoria, built in honor of the victory in the battle of Lepanto. Some Sanvitesi, who participated in it, on their victorious return against the Turks, erected a sanctuary in his honor
Marco Baviello (2 years ago)
Majestic church, 16th century facade remodeled in 1700. Built in honor of the victory of the holy league against the Ottoman Empire in the famous battle of Lepanto in 1571 to limit the latter's expansionist aims in the island of Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean. Inside there is a wooden choir, a riot of works and frescoes from the Venetian school and very beautiful colored glass on the windows.
MARIO MORETTI ZOOM MASTER (5 years ago)
Great Basilica in Romanesque style, built in the sixteenth century. Bright façade, rebuilt in 1700, above a large churchyard, incorporated into the larger Piazza Giovanni Paolo II. The bell tower, with a square section, is rather stocky, as if it had remained unfinished. The interior has three naves, a transept with a dome and a deep apse, where the High Altar and the seventeenth century wooden choir are located. Polychrome marbles have been used very much, as for the balustrade of the High Altar, the majestic altar to the right of the Major and in other chapels. The baroque style, applied in the 1700s, did not alter the original structure too much. The bronze portal by sculptor Ernesto Lamagna impresses those who are about to enter the Basilica from the Sagrato. Numerous are the precious paintings painted in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and equally important are the wooden sculptures, among them the Dead Christ in a chapel of the right nave. Significant is the Icon of the Mother of God Nicopeia, placed, clearly visible even from afar thanks to excellent lighting, to the left of the High Altar. Those who spend a holiday in the Murge should not miss a visit to this fascinating Basilica.
Giuseppe Alabrese (5 years ago)
Surely the most beautiful Basilica of San Vito very beautiful both internally and externally with machine gun shots left long ago is said by the Saracens .. a historical piece of the country and if those parts definitely not to be skipped
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