The church of Santa Maria dell'Orto was built during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the area where it rises until the end of the 19th century was used for agricultural and commercial purposes. The building is the national church of the Japanese community. Tourists from around the world are attracted by its majestic appearance and interior by a student of Michelangelo - Guidetto Guidetti. It is a real Marian sanctuary - full of precise symbols and attributes.
The beginnings of the church are associated with a miracle that was to take place around 1488. A farmer suffering from cerebral palsy prayed for the image of the Virgin Mary painted near his market. The man recovered, and this event led to widespread worship for the image. Soon, 12 professional associations funded the construction of a church in this place.
The real attraction is the monumental Macchina delle Quarant'Ore, which is created in the evening on Holy Thursday. It is a traditional nineteenth century building made of richly decorated, gilded wood with over 200 candles. Its task is to fill the mystical darkness. It is the last structure of this type that was once assembled all over Italy.
Attractions inside
