Dicey story about Sicilian couple who claim that a statue of madonna shed tears so they built a church there. The architecture is beautiful and can be seen from quite a distance including from Ortigia. Interior equally beautiful. Stained glass not so.

The sanctuary is worth a short visiting - modern building with garden, nice inside and outside. There was a collectible penny machine and also a great souvenir shop inside.

We see this every day and use it as our homing spot when driving around the city! Inside there are many catacombs with wall art and we have been for a christening there also.

A very interesting church. If staying in Ortigia it is a bit of a drive to get there and having been in Oritigia the area surrounding the church did not have the same "safe" feeling that all of Ortigia had..but we went during daylight and...More

Unless you're seriously religious and into religious iconography (without also being into beautiful churches) it is just not worth the walk even to find the church. Inside the church is plain, concrete and rather dusty-smelling due to some crushed velvet curtains all around the altar....More

Visited the crypt and marvelled at the side chapels, mini-displays, tapestries and icons. Great insight into the miracle witnessed in 1953-4. External structure resembles Liverpool's RC cathedral, and centre-point of Jesus was very impressive. Time permitting, a visit to the site museum at ground level...More

There are mixed reviews about this place and we see why as the outside resembles a large concrete tent and might be considered overdone. It changes once inside though as we found it to be quite stunning and despite its enormous size it was contemplative....More