Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Cent. 19th
This arch is also known as “Arco di Spitorusso”, taking its name from a woman who once sold dried fruit here. Today it holds the painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a figure very dear to this community. Just a few metres away, the church of San Francesco hosts the cult of this Madonna, known for her protection of the souls in Purgatory. The tempera on plaster painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Baby Jesus in her arms. The Virgin is wrapped in a blue cloak, an angel holding a crown above her head, and seems to be balancing above the souls in purgatory. She delicately caresses the face of the Baby Jesus who is wearing a red tunic and she holds a small garment in her left hand, a symbol of protection and mercy. The intense but serene scene is an invitation to prayer and hope. Our Lady of Carmel is a symbol of protection for the people of Palo del Colle and for this reason the local women would gather here during the eight days of the dead and for the whole month of November to pray for the dead.
It was a moment of reflection in which to remember loved ones with faith. This devotion was not just limited to November; the community would gather under the arch to pray together during the novena to honour the Virgin Mary. The high point of the celebrations took place on 16th July, the festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, when an altar was set up under the arch, the band played, and in the late afternoon the statue of the Virgin Mary was carried there by builders who considered her their protector. Every year this corner of Palo del Colle would be transformed into a place of reflection and faith, a meeting point for the community to unite in remembrance, prayer and devotion. The shrine continues to be a symbol of hope and protection, testament to the strength of tradition.