Santa Maria del Soccorso, Alcamo
The ex Church of Saint Maria del Soccorso is a Catholic Church located in Alcamo, in the province of Trapani. Sicily, Italy. Description. Among the most ancient churches in Alcamo, it was probably founded in the 15th century by a merchants from Genoa, who were members of the confraternity dedicated to the cult of the Holy Mary's Rescue. It is situated in corso 6 Aprile, opposite the Mother Church. Originally it was in Gothic style, with a nave and two aisles, but its form became elliptical during the restoration made in 1739. The interior  is well balanced and full of stuccoes made by Nicolò Curti, brother of Lorenzo Curti who carved the wooden statue of Our Lady of Miracles. On the high altar, there is the 16th-century sculpture of Our Lady of the Rescue (Madonna del Soccorso), realized by Bartolomeo Berrettaro. In the most popular iconography the Virgin Mary is represented armed with a club while hitting a demon terrified at her feet. The main portal, carved in white stone, with the impost and architrave with moldings, is surmounted by a lunette assigned to Berrettaro; it represents the image of Our Lady of  the Rescue among Angels. Madonna del Soccorso. The cult for this Madonna started in Palermo in 1306, following the apparition to the Augustinian Friar Nicola La Bruna. People say that the monk, tormented by an incurable disease and very close to death, had been healed thanks to Madonna, who asked him, in return for it, to propagate the news of the miracle and to have her invoked as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Thanks to the Augustinian Friars, the veneration for Our Lady of Perpetual Help spread all over Italy. Another title given to her is "Our Lady with the  Club", because she is represented while brandishing a small club to hit the demon crouched and terrified at her feet.