History
The origins of Valverde Sanctuary are unknown. It is thought that in meddle ages the area could have been home to some hermits who built some small churches, of which are some traces. The most famous statue in the church (La Madonna di Valverde) is made out of clay. The statue is 40 sm tall and its origins are also unknown. It represents Mary holding baby Jesus on her right hand. Popular tradition narrates that the statue was hidden under the ground at the bottom of a column near the church of Pilar, to avoid its distruction in case of Saracen pirates, which regularly appeared in the area destroying religious icons and taking man away as prisonersi. After itsa lucky discovery the statue was taken and kept in a little church called "Pilar". Already in 1400 there is a tradition documenting the existence of a church known as Church of the Madonna of Vallvert. The present church was built, maybe on the surfice of the old church around 1600 and probably dedicated to the Madonna of the Arrow. During 1600 the side altars are enriched by paintings such as Il Martirio di Sant'Andrea and San Carlo Borromeo In Preghiera (both paintings by Panataleo Calvi, ligurian painter who operated in Sardinia). Around 1700 some more painting are added: L'incoronazione di Maria con Santa Caterina da Siena, San Domenico e Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. Towards the middle of 1700 the main altar was built out of Carrara's marble. On the top the 1500 statue of the Madonna della Freccia (Mary of the Arrow) and below a niche with the Madonna di Valverde statue. During 1800 the church was further enriched by more paintings: San Giovanni Battista, San Raffaele, Tobiolo and San Giovanni Nepomuceno, Another painting of these era is the one representing Madonna del Carmelo e anime del Purgatorio. A third painting is dedicated to San Dionigi Vescovo, San Marco and San'Antonio da Padova.
