History of the Church and the "Wooden Christ"

(Via Misericordia) - Originally built by Francescan monks in 1508 and rebuilt in 1662 on the wishes of the Confraternita of Gonfalone. The church has to be restored after second world war bombings which hit Alghero extensively because of its vicinity to Fertilia airport. In fact in the square just in front of the church stood an historic building wiped out by bombs. The recent works of restoration have not in any way modified the primitive structure, of which the bell-tower, with its Colonial-Spanish architecture is an interesting example. The church houses a beautiful wooden statue in real size of Christ dating back to the 16th century and several noteworthy Flemish paintings. The "wooden Christ" was foudn intact at Porto Conte in 1606, after the ship "Santa Maria di Montenero" travelling from Alicante was wrecked due to bad sea. Miracolously all passengers survived and the statue was found intact. Great devotion is paid by christians in Alghero to the "Wooden Christ" and the statue is paraded along the procession during Easter celebration.