 It is so called, because tradition says that in this place there was the old Piazza (Plutia), before William I destroyed it. But there is no proof that supports this theory. Here, in 1348, while the plague was destroying the population, an image of Our Lady was found.
Tradition wants that Count Roger was given this sacred image by the Pope, as a good luck token to beat the Saraceni. Apparently, the nobleman left this image in custody with the Basiliani Monks who had their convent in this area and, to protect it, he located his troops in a castle nearby the monastery. The venerated effigy was carried in a procession up to the Mother Church, where it is still kept today, along the streets of the town afflicted by an epidemic of plague for the disease to cease its deathly spread. The sanctuary holds a copy of the banner of the Madonna, that each year, on the last Sunday of April, is carried in a procession from Piazza Vecchia to the church of Angeli Custodi and then returned to its original place on the third of May. On this date, a great feast is held, with the participation of all the population.
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It is so called, because tradition says that in this place there was the old Piazza (Plutia), before William I destroyed it. But there is no proof that supports this theory. Here, in 1348, while the plague was destroying the population, an image of Our Lady was found.
Tradition wants that Count Roger was given this sacred image by the Pope, as a good luck token to beat the Saraceni. Apparently, the nobleman left this image in custody with the Basiliani Monks who had their convent in this area and, to protect it, he located his troops in a castle nearby the monastery. The venerated effigy was carried in a procession up to the Mother Church, where it is still kept today, along the streets of the town afflicted by an epidemic of plague for the disease to cease its deathly spread. The sanctuary holds a copy of the banner of the Madonna, that each year, on the last Sunday of April, is carried in a procession from Piazza Vecchia to the church of Angeli Custodi and then returned to its original place on the third of May. On this date, a great feast is held, with the participation of all the population.
