Madonna Immacolata
Cent. 19th
The stones that form this arch, known as “Arco Pagano”, are the guardians of distant voices, revolutionary whispers, faith, and spring. In 1814, the doctor Raffaele Pagano, a member of the illustrious Pagano family, was active in the Moti Carbonari against Gioacchino Murat’s regime. During those difficult years, the desire for freedom and justice was intertwined with the need for divine protection. Perhaps it was then that the family commissioned the icon of the Madonna Immacolata, painted on one of the walls of the arch as a sign of faith and hope. The virgin is dressed in white and wrapped in a blue cloak and she appears serene but strong. A dead snake at her feet recalls the victory of good over evil, the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit while above, enclosed in a golden circle, Christ bestows blessing with His right hand while holding the world in His left hand. The painting recalls the statue on the façade of the nearby Chiesa del Purgatorio, as if to create an invisible link between heaven and earth, between the inhabitants’ homes and the sacred church.
The story has ancient origins: before the cult of Mary took hold, the Roman goddess of spring, Flora, was venerated here. The first of May was dedicated to her, the queen of nature, rebirth and flowers. In the 1600s, the Dominican monks transformed the pagan festival into a Christian rite, and dedicated the month of May to the Virgin Mary. Every day, hymns were sung, prayers were recited and the Statue of the Virgin was decorated with roses. The Queen of Heaven thus took the place of the Queen of Flowers. The sentiment remained however: a celebration of life, beauty and the light returning after the winter. At the foot of the arch a small marble plaque recalls simple and authentic devotion, reading: “A worshipper lights the lamp every Friday and Saturday”. And that trembling flame continues to shine, not just in faith, but in memory. Because the Arco Pagano is not only stone and painting: it is a story suspended in time, a place where history reaches people’s hearts.