Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie

Santa Maria delle Grazie is the parish church of Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi. Its richly inlaid altar, paintings and maiolica decoration place a notable collection of religious art within the village's historic centre.

Why it matters

The church joins the history of a local parish with artistic connections to Naples. The high altar, attributed to Dionisio Lazzari, uses coloured stone and other precious materials to turn liturgical furniture into an exceptionally elaborate decorative composition.

What to notice

Mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli and coloured marbles animate the altar's inlay. A painting of the Madonna delle Grazie associated with Giovanni Antonino D'Amato il Giovane includes a landscape extending towards Capri.

On the two-tier facade, a maiolica image of the Madonna is dated 1873. The bell tower's ceramic clock face, with six Roman numerals against yellow tiles and a blue decorative border, adds a distinctive element to the village skyline.

Context and history

The church is recorded in 1475, and the parish was instituted in 1566. A rebuilt church was consecrated in 1625, with local families subsequently supporting its chapels. A foundation legend links the Festinese family with a child carried off by a wolf and found unharmed, preserving a story of Marian protection alongside the building's documented history.