Church of Madonna del Ponte
It was around 1500 that the story of the church of the Madonna del Ponte came to life, still called "Vecchia Matera" today.Adjacent to a mill, here was the inn of Iano, the local miller, already documented towards the end of the year 1000. This road, important and busy for the time, connected the roads of Campania, Puglia and Basilicata and, in a certain way, it forced the passage above all of vehicles dedicated to various businesses, in particular those dedicated to wheat.
In 1509 an event took place which shortly thereafter radically and forever changed the fate of that place; a real miracle. In fact, it is said that the oxen pulling a cart passing on the bridge adjacent to the church went crazy - probably frightened by something - causing the driver to lose control and fall into the ravine below. Iano, witness of the incident, rushed to the scene while invoking the Madonna delle Grazie to save the victim's life.
The latter miraculously emerged unharmed. Shortly after the rumor spread until it reached the attention of the Franciscan friars of the convent of the Madonna d'Avigliano , who arrived on the spot to personally ascertain what happened, verifying its veracity.
It was around 1500 that the story of the church of the Madonna del Ponte came to life, still called "Vecchia Matera" today.
Adjacent to a mill, here was the inn of Iano, the local miller, already documented towards the end of the year 1000. This road, important and busy for the time, connected the roads of Campania, Puglia and Basilicata and, in a certain way, it forced the passage above all of vehicles dedicated to various businesses, in particular those dedicated to wheat.
In 1509 an event took place which shortly thereafter radically and forever changed the fate of that place; a real miracle. In fact, it is said that the oxen pulling a cart passing on the bridge adjacent to the church went crazy - probably frightened by something - causing the driver to lose control and fall into the ravine below. Iano, witness of the incident, rushed to the scene while invoking the Madonna delle Grazie to save the victim's life.
Amazed like everyone, they suggested to the miller to paint the sacred effigy on the outside wall of the mill so that the wayfarers parked near the inn could dedicate prayers. Iano, not skilled in the noble art of painting, proposed to the monks to carry out what was said. From that moment the name of the Madonna del Ponte was born.
From that moment on, that place became the venue for manifestations of faith and the wonders never lacked. An example of this is the episode of 1607 when the inn that had been Iano's was surrounded by Spanish soldiers alarmed by the presence of brigands from the Belolla band 1.
They started a violent shootout that caused a fire to break out and the entire structure collapsed except for the part of the wall where the Holy Virgin was represented, who emerged unscathed from the flames.
Again in 1694, following a strong earthquake, the walls of the structure collapsed and once again the wall affected by the Madonna miraculously remained standing and without any damage.
All these events led to the awareness that the painting needed to be protected: in 1773 there was a primitive construction of a votive aedicule and, after the umpteenth reconstruction of the inn, the affected part of the wall was incorporated into it so as to guarantee it greater protection . The new church, however, presented itself with very narrow and unsuitable spaces to allow a worthy prayer to the many pilgrims and wayfarers of that place. So it was then that the religious authorities decided to build a larger one slightly higher up, erected by "reproducing" the plan, design and spaces of the cathedral of Santa Maria della Pace, located in the ancient town centre.
Even today the similarity has remained unchanged. Mariano Cuocolo 2 from the countryside was chosen to supervise the works, as can still be seen today by seeing the inscription in front of the central door. Having worked on the construction site of the Cathedral and on the wooden furnishings of the church of Monte dei Morti, decided to put in place what was magnificent of today's Historic Center.
Given the sacredness and importance of the place, many religious associations and many citizens actively flocked to the realization of this new project; two examples above all are the Confraternity of the SS. Nome di Dio - who ordered the cutting of trees on one of his properties nearby to supply the trunks suitable for cooking the lime for use in the manufacturing process - and the Pironti family, the last feudal lord of Campagna who gave the land away for free.
After thirteen months of incessant work, the Sacred Temple was inaugurated in April 1775. On 16 February 1807, King Joseph Bonaparte visiting Puglietta - an area chosen for a garrison of the French army - stopped in the same inn that centuries earlier belonged to the miller Iano.
From 1818 the church began to depend on the Cathedral Chapter, which sent a priest once a week to perform religious functions, often alternating with the monks of the sanctuary of the Madonna d'Avigliano, who have always been linked to this place.
The permanent presence of a priest occurred only in 1959, when Mons. Palatucci a> decided to erect the parish of the Madonna del Ponte to the great joy of the locals. Among the artistic assets still present in the church is the high altar in polychrome marble made by local artists in 1782 at the behest of the Pironti family. The church today is in perfect condition thanks to the
Text edited by Cristian Viglione.
Revisions: Francesco Pezzuti.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Valentino Izzo - Raccontare Campagna...Le fabbriche religiose. - VOL. M - pag. 135 - anno 2004
2. Valentino Izzo - Raccontare Campagna...Le fabbriche religiose. - VOL. M - pag. 136 - anno 2004
