Madonna delle Lacrime Sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Madonna delle Lacrime is a 20th-century Roman Catholic pilgrimage church in Syracuse, Sicily, established after a reported local Marian phenomenon in 1953. The site is known for its distinctive modernist concrete form and its role as a devotional destination.

Architectural works on the shrine took place in the later 20th century, resulting in a large, sculptural building that houses the devotional image and spaces for liturgy and pilgrimage. The complex is visited for religious observance and for its distinctive modern architecture.

The sanctuary stands within the urban area of Syracuse on Sicily’s eastern coast, serving both local worshippers and visiting pilgrims.

• Modern pilgrimage shrine: The sanctuary commemorates a reported Marian event in 1953 and was constructed in the late 20th century; its modernist concrete form is a notable example of postwar religious architecture in Italy.

What to See #

• Main sanctuary building: The main modern sanctuary is a prominent reinforced-concrete structure with a teardrop-shaped profile, built as a pilgrimage basilica in the second half of the 20th century.
• Plazas and devotional areas: Adjacent devotional spaces and external plazas accommodate pilgrims and processions linked to the shrine established after the reported 1953 event.