Madonna della porta
Cent.19th
The arch of the Madonna della Porta (Our Lady of the Gate), also known as “Arco del Castellano” is a symbol of faith and protection. Its low vault protects an ancient tradition. It is dedicated to the Madonna della Porta, the town’s patron saint, whose story is thick with mystery and devotion. The name of the Madonna was a subject of dispute in the past; some called her “Santa Maria la Porta”, believing her to be the guardian of the Porta del Cielo (Gate of Heaven), while others believed her to be the guardian of the city gates of Palo, defending the town from the enemy. The Madonna della Porta is well-loved by the inhabitants of Palo for a special reason: she was the patron saint of pregnant women. Women facing a difficult and dangerous birth invoked her intercession and when there was a grave risk, someone ran to ring the bells of the mother church to ask for help. The women gathered under the arch or in the church to pray for the safety of the mother and child in question. In the community, the cult of the Madonna was expressed not only in prayer and song but also in the care of the altar.
Today, as in the past, the novena is celebrated in preparation for the festival and procession. On these occasions, the women decorate the altar and recite the rosary and the band plays. The festival of the “Madonna della Porta”, initially held in June, was celebrated mainly by women and children because the men were in the fields harvesting. In order to allow the whole community to celebrate, the festival was moved to the first week of August, when the men returned from the fields. This change meant that everyone could gather for a collective celebration in honour of the Madonna, a symbol of protection and hope for the town. This icon was created by an unknown artist and is a reproduction on copper of a painting of the 1700s which can be found in the mother church. The arch of the Madonna della Porta is not only a place of devotion but a silent testament to a community who have always found in the Madonna support in difficult times and light in moments of darkness