Sito dell'Assessorato alla Cultura, Turismo e Spettacolo del Comune di Piano di Sorrento
- ideato e realizzato dall'Ufficio Cultura del Comune -
Tel. 0815344426 - mail: info@pianodisorrentoeventi.it
Chapel of
San Liborio
In the heart of the San Liborio district, nestled among citrus groves and overlooking a landscape that faces Mount Vico Alvàno, stands the Chapel of Santa Maria delle Grazie: a place rich in spirituality, art, and history that tells the deep roots of the local community. Its origins date back to the 14th century, when devotion to the image of the Madonna delle Grazie spread in the small rural village. The chapel is visible from afar thanks to its gray tuff bell tower with a pyramid-shaped roof, built in 1930 and later reinforced with elegant metal structures.
Over time, the architectural complex has taken on a complex configuration due to numerous expansion interventions that have enriched both its functionality and artistic value. Particularly significant is the side chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, built in 1933 and deeply felt by the local population. It houses a captivating papier-mâché statue of the Saint, alongside other religious pictorial representations. Inside, there is also a votive chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart, featuring a papier-mâché statue from 1945 and a finely decorated wooden altar dating back to the late 19th century.
The artistic heritage of the chapel is rich and varied: oil paintings, papier-mâché statues by renowned artists from Lecce, a wooden Christ, and a rare representation of Saint Liborius the Bishop, dating from 1990. Particularly valuable is the painting on the main altar, depicting the Virgin of Grace with Child, surrounded by angels and saints. Along the walls, a bronze Stations of the Cross unfolds, composed of fourteen small raised images that narrate the key moments of Christ's Passion with simplicity and expressive strength.
From an architectural standpoint, the chapel stands out for its gabled roof, supported by wooden trusses resting on a layer of Marsigliese tiles, and for the use of the "astrico battuto" technique in the waterproofing of the vaults: a traditional construction method typical of the Sorrento and Amalfi areas, which involves mixing volcanic lapilli with lime milk. This method gives the roof a distinct vegetal patina, a testament to the perfect integration of architecture and environment.
Today, the Chapel of Santa Maria delle Grazie is not only a place of worship but also a living testimony to the identity of the area. Every element – from the building structure to the sacred furnishings – contributes to telling centuries of popular faith, daily devotion, and urban transformations. Visiting this small gem means coming into contact with the living memory of a community and with a form of authentic beauty made of stone, color, and spirituality.
How to reach it