Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie
At the far end of the Lungomare Matteotti, where the coast road runs out near the mouth of the Loricina River, a Romanesque-Gothic basilica faces the sea. What stands here now was built between 1909 and 1914, designed by Aristide Leonori with three naves and bronze relief doors, but the site's pull predates the building by centuries.
Two things draw pilgrims from across the world: a wooden statue of the Madonna delle Grazie that crossed the Channel from Ipswich in 1550 to escape Henry VIII's destruction of religious images, and the remains of Maria Goretti — canonized in 1950 — kept in a silver-bronze urn in the crypt below, made from shell casings collected after the Allied landings.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time a visit around the early May procession, when the wooden Madonna is carried through town to San Giovanni and returned a week later. The crypt draws quiet, unhurried visitors even on days when the main basilica is closed — the elevator from street level makes it accessible, and the urn's provenance, shell casings from the 1944 landings, stops most people mid-step.
The story behind Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie
A church dedicated to the Annunziata already stood on this shoreline when, in 1550, a wooden Madonna arrived from Ipswich — shipped out ahead of Henry VIII's iconoclasm. The sanctuary that grew around the statue passed to the Passionist Fathers in 1888, with Pope Pius X formally naming them its custodians. The original 16th-century structure was demolished in 1909 as unsafe; Leonori's replacement opened in 1914 and was solemnly consecrated in October 1931.
Pope Paul VI elevated it to Minor Basilica on 20 August 1970, a year after his own visit. The crypt and basilica were substantially reworked between 2002 and 2006 — new altar and flooring by architect Paola Jecco — though the urn holding Maria Goretti's remains, crafted by Arnaldo Brandizzi, had been in place since her canonization in 1950.
Good to know
The FL8 train from Roma Termini takes just over an hour; weekday afternoon opening runs 4:30–7:00 PM. Verify Sunday hours before making the trip. Entry is free. Wheelchair access via the main entrance ramp; the crypt is reached by elevator.
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What travellers say about Santuario della Madonna delle Grazie
As small as it is impressively spiritual. Beautiful.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie is not only a place steeped in spirituality, but also an ideal destination for those who wish to combine prayer with a tour of Lanuvio, where you'll find a place steeped in history and unique stories. From pre-Roman times to the Middle Ages, you can enjoy a unique panorama of the area. Seeing is believing.
I was a child in the early 1960s, a guest at the adjacent boarding school, which no longer exists, having been a kindergarten for years. There were two nuns there at the time, who were very abusive toward us children. I remember one who played the guitar and always told us wonderful stories... a true angel of God. Returning to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace, as an adult I have traveled far and wide, but rarely have I found a place as idyllic, spiritual, and bucolic as this sacred place. I would love to visit again... Every time I see the photos, I get tears in my eyes. Unforgettable memories, good or bad, of a childhood now gone. I recommend everyone to go to Lanuvio and visit this wonderful place, which will give you so much inner peace. And the view of the Roman countryside is of incomparable beauty, especially in spring.
Magical place of great mysticism.
In this place you find serenity.
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