Sanctuario della Madonna dei Bagni at Casalina near Deruta

The Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Bagni is at Casalina near Deruta. Deruta is the centre of majolica and ceramics work in Umbria. The designs are spectacular and all work is hand done. This church has more than 600 votives and thanks for graces received plaques all over its walls and these are individually hand made ceramics. They date from 1657 and have the letters PGR - Per Grazia Ricevuta on them.

The history of this amazing place dates from the mid 1600s when a Franciscan friar found a fragment of crockery on the ground, the base of which was painted with an image of the Madonna and the infant Jesus. So that it wouldn't be broken any further he wedged it into the branches of an oak tree.

Later a Casalina merchant noticed it had fallen so he nailed it to the tree. A few years later the merchant, Cristoforo di Filippo, returned to ask for grace for his sick wife. He returned home to find his wife cured. The couple commissioned the first votive plaque to give thanks to the Madonna for her intercession. 

The tree can be seen behind the altar, and at the back in a glass case you can see the tree and also the first plaque. 

 Work on building a permanent church began almost immediately after this. It was built around where the oak tree stood. Other locals began to commission their own tiles to give thanks PGR. Over almost four centuries the votive plaques have continued to be placed in the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Bagni, giving an amazing insight into clothing styles, farming methods, lifestyles but especially the types of illnesses and accidents that befell the citizens of Casalina.

These photos are not in chronological order but you will see that people were saved from falling from trees, from demons, robbery, drowning, accidents with animals and fighting in the 1600s to those in the later 1900s and 2000s showing car and bike accidents, returning from WWII, heart surgery and flying into power lines.

You will notice that all the plaques have a depiction of the Madonna and the infant Jesus in the tree in their design.

Enjoy the art work, the reasons for giving thanks and appreciate the amazing faith people have shown over the centuries.

The outside of this sanctuary church gives no hint of what is inside. The gardens surrounding are immaculate and I have read that the church buildings and grounds are maintained by young men and women in need. They are doing an excellent job.