The Holy Mary's Sorrowful Sanctuary Ss.

Holy Mary's Sorrowful Sanctuary Ss. is also called "Madonna del Fulmine" (Woman of Lightning) following a storm that occurred in the winter of 1691, when all the population took refuge at Porta di Mare (Sea Gate), now Porta Garibaldi, to beg the Virgin.

It is said that a bolt of lightning struck the horse of a faithful young man who had stopped to pray, and consequently, it was shouted as a miracle for having saved the boy's life.

The Church of Sorrows is located next to Porta Garibaldi, in one of the most beautiful squares of the city. It was completed at the end of the 18th century by expanding the previously existing building. The current structure was strongly desired by the Congregation of the Holy Mary's Sorrowful Servants SS. following the growing flow of the faithful, who, during the 18th century, began to crowd the ancient chapel. The construction of the new structure involved, among other things, the moving of the entrance from inside Porta Mare (now Porta Garibaldi) to the center of the square with a very elegant neoclassical portal surmounted by a central disc on which a pierced heart stands out - a symbol of the Mother of God's pain for the death of her Son.

On the other hand, inside of the church there is the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, particularly dear to the people of Marsala for the unrepeatable expressiveness of its features - her face, drawn by an under-officer who remained anonymous.

On Good Friday - one of the most heartfelt events of the Holy Week in Marsala - the statue of the "Addolorata" (the Sorrowful), is carried in procession through the streets of the city by thousands of faithful people.