Madonna of the Letter - Messina, Italy
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 38° 11.785 E 015° 33.772
33S E 549286 N 4227757
Madonna of the Letter is located top of stone stele erected on the ancient fortress of San Salvatore at the entry to the Port of Messina in Messina, Italy.
Waymark Code: WM11TDW
Location: Sicilia, Italy
Date Posted: 12/16/2019
Views: 1
A sixty meter high stone stele is topped with a gilded bronze statue of the patron of Messina, the Madonna of the Letter. The designer and builder of the of the monument was Francesco Barbaro. The statue of the Madonna of the Letter was sculpted by Tore Edmondo Calabrò. The monument was consecrated by Archbishop Angelo Paino on 12 August 1934.
The Virgin Mary is depicted wearing a crown, halo, and flowing robes. She is standing on a sphere with her right hand raised while giving a blessing. Her left hand is by her side and she is holding a letter that she would be giving to the ambassador from Messina.
According to the tradition, St. Paul visited Messina in 42 AD. Inspired by his words many were converted to Christianity. The people of Messina, then sent a delegation to Jerusalem honor the Virgin Mary. The Madonna gave them a letter addressed to the people of Messina promising eternal protection to the city and concluded with the blessing: “Vos et ipsam civitatem benedicimus”.
The blessing is inscribed in large letters on the front of the fortress which acts as the base for the monument:
VOS ET IPSAM CIVITATEM
BENEDICIMUS
I bestow my benediction upon you and your city.