The Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

In Gallicchio, among the oldest parts of the village, stands the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a place of worship whose roots date back to between the 9th and 10th centuries. It was during this period that the Basilian monks, who had come to the village in search of peace and spirituality, built a small church on a rocky outcrop, right where the two branches of the “Fosso dei Monaci” meet.

The tradition that attributes the origin of the cult to the Basilians is echoed in an ancient fresco depicting the Madonna del Carmine with the Child, surrounded by a crown of clouds above a turreted city in flames. The image seems to recall the legend of some inhabitants of Gallicchio who survived the destruction of their city at the hands of the Saracens and built the chapel out of gratitude and devotion.

For many centuries, however, the history of the building remained shrouded in silence: with the disappearance of the small monastery and the construction of the church of Santa Maria Assunta, the life of the village moved further north, leaving the ancient chapel almost isolated. It was not until 1610 that definite traces of it were found, when Prince Giacomo III Coppola promoted its restoration. The earthquake of 1857 and the neglect of the following decades caused serious damage to the structure, which remained partially compromised until the early 2000s when it was finally restored. 

The simple and elegant façade features a moulded stone portal with a depiction of the Virgin Mary and a circular oculus that illuminates the interior. The high altar once housed a 1613 painting by Giovanni Angelo D'Ambrosio, depicting the Madonna del Carmine and Elijah on the chariot of fire. Beneath it was an oil painting of the Blessed Virgin of Carmel. Both works have been restored and are kept in the church of Santa Maria Assunta.

A precious wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel, dating back to the 18th century and restored in 2000, is still venerated in the chapel. The Madonna, wrapped in a large blue cloak, holds the Child in her arms, who is holding a scapular and gently placing his hand on his Mother's chin. The two crowned figures convey an intense expression of protection and grace.

A simple but deeply symbolic place, where history, faith and tradition continue to intertwine, still telling the story of the most authentic soul of Gallicchio today.