# Church of the Addolorata **At a glance:** The church of the Addolorata, in upper Casamicciola between the Maio, La Rita and the Sentinella, is the same church known as the Purgatorio or Santa Maria del Suffragio, on Via D'Aloisio. Since 1750 it has been the centre of devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose statue was the only object saved from the 1969 fire. ## Useful information - **Type:** Churches, faith and traditions - **Address:** Via D'Aloisio, 80074 Casamicciola Terme NA - **Period:** from 1750 (dedicated to the Addolorata) - **Coordinates:** 40.743250, 13.898429 - **Where:** Via D'Aloisio, upper Casamicciola - **Area:** Maio / La Rita / Sentinella - **Other names:** Purgatorio church; Santa Maria del Suffragio - **Devotion:** Centre of devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows since around 1750 - **Don't miss:** The dressed wooden statue of the Addolorata, saved from the 1969 fire - **Status:** Check accessibility with the parish before visiting ## Two names, one church Anyone looking for the church of the Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) in Casamicciola will find it in the upper part of town, along Via D'Aloisio, just above Piazza Maio and a short distance from the [sanctuary of the Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) at the Sentinella. It is the same building that everyone in town calls “il Purgatorio” and that church records list as Santa Maria del Suffragio: Italy's national catalogue of cultural heritage in fact records it under all three names. The building's story, from its foundation in 1693 to the present day, is told on the page of the [Purgatorio church](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/); here we tell the story of the devotion that gave it its best-loved name. ## History of the devotion Founded at the end of the 17th century as a church dedicated to Santa Maria del Suffragio, associated with prayer for the souls of the dead, around 1750 the church became the centre of devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows in the Maio area and took the name of chiesa dell'Addolorata al Maio. According to local memory, after 1883 the rebuilt church was also dedicated to the Addolorata, confirming a bond that had by then become inseparable. The nickname Purgatorio, meanwhile, has spread to the whole area between Piazza Maio and La Rita. ### The statue of Our Lady of Sorrows The heart of the church is the statue of the Addolorata, dating from the early 20th century: a wooden sculpture dressed in fabric robes, placed on the single altar. Its value to the community is also symbolic: in the fire caused by a short circuit that destroyed the church on 25 September 1969, it was the only object to survive. The ischia.org portal refers to it as the statue of the Crowned Mother of Sorrows. According to the entry published by isoladischia.com, which draws on Achille della Regione's book _Ischia Sacra_, the sacristy holds a devotional Assumption and a Holy Family attributed to a painter from the workshop of Francesco Solimena. ## A church wounded twice Before visiting, it is advisable to check with the parish of Santa Maria Maddalena on the state of the building and the times of services. ## Where it is and how to get there The church is on Via D'Aloisio, in upper Casamicciola, in an area that sources variously call the Maio, La Rita or the Sentinella. From the harbour, go up to [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) by car, taxi or the buses serving the hillside part of town; from the square, continue on foot. ### What to see nearby Nearby are the [sanctuary of Maria Santissima Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) at the Sentinella and Piazza Maio, the old centre of town before 1883. To follow the thread of the Suffragio confraternity, which found a new home elsewhere after 1883, you can visit the [church of San Pasquale Baylon](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-san-pasquale-baylon-confraternity-sant-anna/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Are the Addolorata church and the Purgatorio church the same church? Yes. Italy's national catalogue of cultural heritage records the building on Via D'Aloisio as the church of the Purgatorio, of Santa Maria dei Suffragi and of the Addolorata al Maio. The names reflect its original dedication and the devotion that took root here from the 18th century. ### Why is it called the Addolorata? Around 1750 the church became the centre of devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows (the Addolorata) in the Maio area. After 1883 the rebuilt church was dedicated to the Addolorata. ### What survived the 1969 fire? On 25 September 1969 a fire struck the church, which was later rebuilt. The statue of the Addolorata was brought to safety and is still the focus of devotion today. ### Can the church be visited? Before going, it is best to ask the parish of Santa Maria Maddalena or the Diocese of Ischia for information on the state of the building and the times of services. ## Also worth seeing - [Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio (Purgatorio)](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-santa-maria-del-suffragio-purgatorio/) - [Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Immacolata](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/sanctuary-maria-santissima-immacolata/) - [Church of San Pasquale Baylon and Confraternity of Sant'Anna](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/church-san-pasquale-baylon-confraternity-sant-anna/) - [Basilica of the Sacro Cuore di Gesù and Santa Maria Maddalena Penitente](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/basilica-sacred-heart-santa-maria-maddalena/) - [Piazza Maio](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/key-places/piazza-maio/) - [History of Casamicciola](https://visitcasamicciola.com/en/history/) ## Sources and further reading - [Catalogo generale dei Beni Culturali (SIGEC) – Chiesa del Purgatorio / dell'Addolorata al Maio](https://sigecweb.beniculturali.it/sigec/item/print/ICCD14715090) - [Isoladischia.com – Chiesa dell'Addolorata (da A. della Regione, Ischia Sacra)](https://www.isoladischia.com/cosa-fare/chiese-e-musei/chiese/chiese-casamicciola-terme/chiesa-dell-addolorata/) - [Ischia.org – Purgatorio, Santa Maria dei Suffragi](https://ischia.org/chiesa/purgatorio) - [G. Mazzella, Casamicciola ed il Majo: Cristo si è fermato alla Marina, Ischianews, 22 agosto 2020](https://news.ischia.it/en/new/societa/6316-casamicciola-ed-il-majo-cristo-si-e-fermato-alla-marina)