santuario, mariano, Maria SS.ma della Libera

The Santuario di Maria SS.ma della Libera in Moiano, near Benevento, occupies a church built in the early 18th century on the remains of a 15th-century predecessor, all but levelled by the earthquake of 1688. Its monumental façade, added from the early 1800s, shows the influence of Vanvitelli’s sober classicism, while the soaring campanile anchors the composition. Inside, the Latin-cross plan with three aisles is typical of Baroque parish churches of the region. The Cappella di Maria SS. della Libera, opened around 1904 and funded by local offerings, houses a wooden statue of the Madonna known as the ‘Madonna Nera’ (Black Madonna), carved in the 15th century. Each 8 September, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, draws large crowds for the novena and veneration. The church was formally designated a Marian sanctuary in March 2022. The high altar and baptistery, both from the 18th century, are the work of the Neapolitan workshop of Carlo D’Adamo.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.