Arcipretal Church Of Santa Maria Delle Grazie

The church was built in Zangarona, a small fraction of Lamezia Terme. The name "Zangarona" derives from "gypsy" because the Albanians who built the country were refugees and the Nicastrese welcomed the new arrivals with great contempt and was called "Zingaroni". But then, after a few years it was called "Zangarona". The church, in ancient times, was dedicated to St. Nicholas and became a parish. In 1616 another church was built in honor of the Madonna delle Grazie. The church was much larger than before with 5 altars: the Madonna delle Grazie, Addolorata, Santo Rosario, SS. Sacrament and the souls of Purgatory. With the earthquake of 1638 the old point of the bell tower fell. The church currently has two naves. The first is dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, owner and patron of Zangarona, celebrated on 2 July. To the left of the first aisle you can admire the shrine of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, the painting of the Madonna del Rosario, the wooden statue of the Madonna delle Grazie, the painting of the Nativity and the wooden statue of Saint Joseph celebrated the first Sunday after March 19th. On the high altar there is a black marble niche with the marble statue of the Madonna delle Grazie. In the second aisle is the statue of Saint Anthony on the left, the painting of Saint Paul and the Madonna de Puris. On the right the picture of the Baptism of Christ, the painting of Carmine with the souls of Purgatory, the wooden Crucifix and the wooden statue of the Immaculate. On the altar of the second nave is the statue of the Sacred Heart. In the sacristy there is a papier-mâché statue of the Madonna delle Grazie carried in procession on July 2nd and a resin statue of St. Joseph carried in procession in March. During the festival of San Giuseppe the "Cicerata" pasta and chickpea festival takes place. The parish includes the Church of San Giuseppe artigiano a Fronti.