WHY SEE IT?
A place of popular devotion that brings together art, history, and spirituality.
CURIOSITY
The Church of the Suffrage was built in 1732 by Alessandro Bandini as a public oratory dedicated to the salvation of souls in Purgatory. That same year, it was consecrated with a solemn ceremony presided over by the Abbot of Santa Reparata al Salto.
From the beginning, the church was conceived not only as a private place of worship for the Bandini family but also as a prayer space open to the community, “sacred to the suffering souls.” In 1835, it passed to the Municipality of Marradi and was later entrusted in 1877 to the Confraternity of Mercy, which still owns it today.
The building stands out for its 18th-century elegance: simple and austere on the outside, yet dynamic and airy within. Inside, it preserves remarkable paintings of saints, a rich collection of relics, sacred furnishings, and family crests related to its foundation.
In the 18th century, it was believed that suffrage Masses helped suffering souls ease their pain in Purgatory. The Council of Trent had decreed that “the souls in Purgatory are relieved by the prayers of the faithful,” and every Eucharistic celebration was seen as a step toward liberation.
PREFER TO LISTEN? CLICK AND RELAX
MAPS
Project funded by:
With the contribution of:
