some earthquakes: there were as
many as thirty quakes in the first 9 days. The one on the fifth day was
particularly violent. The carnival celebrations in the city were stopped and
instead they had religious penitential ceremonies.
In the
first days of February 1796 Arezzo was hit by
some earthquakes: there were as
many as thirty quakes in the first 9 days. The one on the fifth day was
particularly violent. The carnival celebrations in the city were stopped and
instead they had religious penitential ceremonies.
On the night of 15th February
four people were in an inn. After discussing sadly the bad events of those day
s,
they began to pray to the Holy Mother. In a small and dark place there was an
image, in coloured terracotta of the Virgin Mary. It was roughly made and almost
completely black with dust, from smoke and fumes. The image hadn’t been washed
for long time. While they were praying, all four saw the image become white,
clear and shining with light. The popular enthusiasm was very big and there was
a continuous pilgrimage to see it. Gradually the whole city passed by to pray in
the small room. 
Popular voice gave to the venerated image a happy and fitting name: “Madonna del Conforto”. On the night of 19th February it was brought to the Cathedral and every year, on the date of the miracle, the city celebrates the Holy Mother.
A chapel was immediately built in her honour, works started in the summer 1796 and finished in 1817. It's in neoclassical style, with three naves, an apse and a dome. Some remarkable works of art in glazed terracotta by Della Robbia can be seen.
