Eremo della Madonna della grotta

The church of Pioraco dedicated to the Madonna della grotta, formerly Madonna della carceri, is partially set in the living rock. It preserves the statue of the Madonna whose feast occurs every three years. Artistic historiography completely ignores the Madonna della Grotta.The origin of the name is probably due to the hermits who were called "included or imprisoned" who lived here in the retreat. It is difficult to file the painted wooden figurine and I do viciously dressed both for devotion and to cover the ugly retinting.To this extraordinary Madonnina the Piorachesi built the church at different times, part leaning against it, part in the return of the rock.The building built with a circular plan, later marked by pilasters, was completed with the outside crushed at the corners to introduce the eye to the rock and, inside, to the circular shape. We do not know when the roof was finally closed. The "Madonna della carcera", both the statue and the building with a central plan, recall the stylistic tastes of Macereto.