Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Pancole

The Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Madre della Divina Provvidenza is located in Pancole, five kilometres from San Gimignano. In the same place where the church stands today, there was little niche in which Piero Francesco Fiorentino painted a fresco of the "Nursing Madonna" at the end of the 1400s. The niche was neglected over the centuries and became overgrown with brambles.

Legend says that in early April 1668, Bartolomea Ghini, a mute shepherdess, was particularly sad about her poverty, and while she was bringing her flock out to pasture, she began to cry. A beautiful woman appeared before her who asked Ghini why she was so sad. When she answered, the woman told her that everything was going to be ok, and that at home, her pantry would be full of bread, her jugs filled with oil and barrels full of wine. Bartolomea realized that she had spoken and so she ran home screaming for her parents, who were shocked to hear their daughter speak and see the pantry so full. All the townsfolk went to the field where the girl said she saw the mysterious woman but they only found brambles. They removed the plants and discovered the niche and the image that, according to Bartolomea, depicted the woman she had met. The painting was scratched by a pruning knife when the brambles was being removed, and the mark can still be seen today.  

This news reached the ears of many pilgrims, who brought offerings and materials to build the church that conserves the fresco. The building was constructed and consecrated in only two years (1670). On July 14, 1944, the Germans destroyed the building almost completely: only the wall with the altar containing the holy image was saved. The small temple was rebuilt similar to the old one, and the sanctuary was re-consecrated on October 19, 1949. In addition to Pier Francesco Fiorentino’s "Nursing Madonna", the sanctuary conserves two polychrome, wooden sculptures from the 17th century, both coming from the Church of San Quirico. The place of worship also contains hundreds of votive offerings.