Chiesa dell'Addolorata di Carife

The Church of the Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) in Carife is located in Via Alessandro Manzoni, at the foot of the hill that leads to the Archaeological Area.

It was built in 1755, following the violent earthquake of 29 November 1732, and the inscription on a small stone plaque on one of the external side walls shows that the Church was originally an oratory, a meeting place for the young people and families of the religious community. The earthquake of 23 November 1980 did not spare the sacred place, which saw the entire façade collapse and two pieces of the portal lost. Not even the last earthquake was able to break the spirit of devotion of the entire community of Carife, to which the Church was officially returned in December 2004.

The façade has a simple stone portal, on which the words "A.D. POSUIT ME DESOLATAM 1755", or "In the year of our Lord 1755 she placed me in sorrow" are engraved.  Returned to its original position after 35 years, the façade bears an artistic 18th-century majolica depicting the image of the Madonna. The wooden statue of Our Lady of Sorrows is placed on the marble altar, which originally followed the classical model of the Pietà, with the dead Christ lying on the Virgin's knees, later removed to lighten the sculpture, carried on the shoulders of the devoted during the procession. The statues of Saint Lucy and Saint Gerard stand out in addition to the artistic tabernacle door of fine workmanship.

The Church of the Addolorata is a very important place for the local community, an emblem of faith and rebirth, contributing to the enrichment of Carife's artistic-religious heritage.