Anecdotes about the Virgin Mary

"The Crowned One of the Fields of Foggia"

Foggia, Apulia (Italy)

In the plain of Capitanata, on the outskirts of Foggia, stands the sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Incoronata, Our Lady Crowned, one of the most popular Marian devotions in Apulia, with strong roots in the parishes of the area and a multitude of pilgrimages and votive offerings.

Local tradition links the origin of the devotion to an apparition of the Virgin, venerated as "Crowned," to a humble shepherd or peasant in the countryside, accompanied by signs of light and protection, which led to the construction of a sanctuary there. This is a very common story in Apulia for this particular devotion, and numerous graces and favors are attributed to the Madonna dell'Incoronata.

It is important to be honest about the limitations of the source. The source from which this page originates acknowledges that the available information is very fragmented and is deliberately cautious. Therefore, it is best to state only what is certain: that devotion to the Madonna dell'Incoronata is deeply rooted in the Foggia area and that there is a frequently visited shrine to the Incoronata. However, the precise chronology of its origin, the date of the alleged apparition, and the details of the story are not supported by reliable sources. Nor is there a specific anecdote with a name and date that can be reliably verified, although, as in so many Apulian shrines, votive offerings of gratitude for cures and favors are abundant.

As in almost all Italian Marian shrines, the Rosary is part of the piety of the Incoronata; but a specific historical relationship with the Rosary is not established.