Church of Madonna di Custonaci

About

Madonna di Custonaci (Italian: Chiesa della Madonna di Custonaci or Cappella di Nostra Signora di Custonaci) is a small Roman Catholic chapel in Erice, Sicily, oriented toward the coast and the Santuario di Maria Santissima di Custonaci in the nearby town of Custonaci.

The chapel is situated on the northeastern flank of Mount Erice, adjacent to Via Piscina Apollinis ("Street of the Pool of Apollo"). This area features an ancient natural spring traditionally known as the Fontanella, whose waters were long believed to possess healing qualities.

During the period of ancient Greek presence on the mountain, while the summit was occupied by the Temple of Venus Erycina, local tradition associated this lower eastern slope with the worship of Apollo, holding that a small temple dedicated to him once stood by the spring. Archaeological surveys of the area identify the site as the historical Piscina di Apollo ("Pool of Apollo").

In ancient Greek religion, Apollo was associated with healing and purification.

Local historical tradition holds that the Fontanella spring and its pool were later used by the Jewish community of Erice as a mikveh (ritual purification bath).

The present chapel is thought to be sited directly where the medieval synagogue once stood. Reflecting this heritage, the synagogue reportedly contained an eastern-facing niche that housed the Torah ark, mirroring the orientation of the current building.

Erice once had a substantial Jewish community whose neighbourhood lay between the parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate and the Spanish Quarter, extending directly to the spring at the eastern edge of the city. The community declined following anti-Jewish violence in the late 14th century and the expulsion of Jews from Sicily in 1492.

The present chapel was built around 1742 at the expense of the master craftsman Paolo Floreno, likely one of the leather tanners who operated workshops near the Fontanella spring.

Baron Melchiorre Curatolo later restored the chapel, endowed it with furnishings and an annuity, and acquired patronage rights over it. By the time of Giuseppe Vito Castronovo, in the second half of the 19th century, the structure had fallen into ruin.

The chapel was restored again in 2020. At the reopening, an image of the Madonna by the ceramicist Piero Amico was installed in the niche above the altar.

The chapel is situated on the northeastern flank of Mount Erice, adjacent to Via Piscina Apollinis ("Street of the Pool of Apollo"). This area features an ancient natural spring traditionally known as the Fontanella, whose waters were long believed to possess healing qualities.

During the period of ancient Greek presence on the mountain, while the summit was occupied by the Temple of Venus Erycina, local tradition associated this lower eastern slope with the worship of Apollo, holding that a small temple dedicated to him once stood by the spring. Archaeological surveys of the area identify the site as the historical Piscina di Apollo ("Pool of Apollo").

In ancient Greek religion, Apollo was associated with healing and purification.

Local historical tradition holds that the Fontanella spring and its pool were later used by the Jewish community of Erice as a mikveh (ritual purification bath).

The present chapel is thought to be sited directly where the medieval synagogue once stood. Reflecting this heritage, the synagogue reportedly contained an eastern-facing niche that housed the Torah ark, mirroring the orientation of the current building.

Erice once had a substantial Jewish community whose neighbourhood lay between the parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate and the Spanish Quarter, extending directly to the spring at the eastern edge of the city. The community declined following anti-Jewish violence in the late 14th century and the expulsion of Jews from Sicily in 1492.

The present chapel was built around 1742 at the expense of the master craftsman Paolo Floreno, likely one of the leather tanners who operated workshops near the Fontanella spring.

Baron Melchiorre Curatolo later restored the chapel, endowed it with furnishings and an annuity, and acquired patronage rights over it. By the time of Giuseppe Vito Castronovo, in the second half of the 19th century, the structure had fallen into ruin.

The chapel was restored again in 2020. At the reopening, an image of the Madonna by the ceramicist Piero Amico was installed in the niche above the altar.