THE ALTAR OF OUR LADY OF MADIA

The present altar in this chapel is a triumph of colors, created by marbles from various quarries and very well modeled and combined in this work. The colors of the marbles (compounds from nature based on the presence of other substances in addition to the calcium carbonate white) or where they came from, gives it the name:

• the Green Ancient columns and the central fund;

• the Verona Yellow bases and capitals of the columns, Festoon behind the tabernacle cross and palm trees around the sculpture of God the Father;

• the Siena Yellow Pavilion over the icon of the Madonna;

• The Yellow Ancient oval containing the sculpture of God the Father;

• The Jasper (hard stone of various colors) of the vertical part of Sicily access steps to the altar and then again the white marble,

• the Rosso Antico and strips of marble "negro".

Above the classic elements of the altar (the access steps, the plan and the tabernacle) there are four columns of green color, placed on high pedestals, protect the Byzantine icon. The same columns support a tympanum presided over by the Lord (resembling that once present on the top of the sixteenth-century altarpiece) that with the left hand holding the world and with that right blesses with the classic posture of the three fingers in a symbol of the SS . Trinity (also represented by the triangle behind the head).

An admirable marble drapery with over a scroll inscribed "Ave Gratia Plena", a frame and a silver crown, adorning, together, the icon coming from the sea.

 

There is an incident related to the arrangement of the rear Green right column, come to us through a deed drawn up before witnesses of the fact: during the arrangement of the said column, made through a pulley system, there was a loud noise, like if something had given way; as workers and others, present at that time, did not notice any breakage, he continued with the laying of the column on its stand. At the end of the work, in recovering the rope, it was noted that, at one point, had remained intact only one interlacing rope. According to witnesses (competent people believe) that one string could never support the weight of the column. (fonte: www.cattedralemonopoli.net)

Done