An iron slab depicting the Madonna della Grotta was installed on the seabed of Dino Island, in Praia a Mare, as part of the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of the arrival by sea of the statue of the patron saint of the municipality of the Upper Tyrrhenian area of Cosenza. The artistic artefact was positioned inside the Blue Grotto, 8 meters deep, by divers from a local diving centre. In addition to diving enthusiasts, it will also be reachable by freediving experts.
The project and the protagonists
The Marine Parks Authority of the Calabria Region, the parish and various local entities collaborated on the initiative: tourist associations, a designer, a diving centre, seaside, metal carpentry and construction companies. The celebratory idea is by Francesco La Gatta and was transformed into a graphic project by Espedito Iannini. Caterina Bossio created the iron part, while Giovanni and Alessio Condicelli took care of the concrete base.
Rosangela Lomonaco, Francesco Martuccio, Vicky and Gerardo Barbuti and Tony Orlando collaborated on the transport on the beach and in the sea, up to the installation point. The positioning was carried out by the diving instructor Stefano Gallico and by La Gatta himself.
The reference to the tradition of 1326
«The choice of positioning on the Praia seabed recalls the rock on which, according to tradition, the statue of the Virgin venerated on the Cosenza Tyrrhenian Sea was placed by some sailors in 1326», explain the promoters. «Seven hundred years later – they add – the Virgin returns to the sea, sealing the link between religious history, maritime identity and natural heritage».