Santuario della Madonna del Terzito

In the green valley of Valdichiesa, the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Terzito is Salina’s principal place of pilgrimage. The seventeenth-century church is associated with a local tradition of a Byzantine hermit and an image of the Virgin. Its annual feast is held in July.

Why it matters

The Comune di Leni describes the church as an important place of Marian devotion in the Aeolian Islands and records that it was formally raised to sanctuary status on 8 December 1969. Valdichiesa is a hamlet surrounded by vineyards, including Malvasia vines. The July feast draws pilgrims to the valley.

What to notice

The present church dates to the seventeenth century and stands over the remains of earlier places of worship. It contains a white statue of Christ and ex-voto offerings, including silver and painted objects. Local tradition links an image of the Virgin to a hermit monk and says it was rediscovered when an earlier chapel was rebuilt. Vineyards cover the surrounding valley, with volcanic peaks beyond.

Context and history

Local tradition, recorded by the municipality, traces the first chapel at Valdichiesa to a Byzantine hermit who painted an image of the Virgin; it also links the chapel’s origins to the earlier cult of Demeter in the valley. The present church was built in 1630 over the remains of earlier buildings. It was formally designated a sanctuary on 8 December 1969. The annual feast and procession take place on 23 July.