The church of the Madonna dei Canneti, in Cerveteri, was built around 1600 to house an image of the Madonna, found among the reed beds in a way that was held to be miraculous. From the start the presence of the Augustinians is recorded, with two monks charged with burying those who died of malaria. In 1636 it is mentioned as falling into ruin; it was restored between 1661 and 1682, and on that occasion was given its bell tower, which served to call the faithful to funerals. In 1695 the archpriest Sebastiano De Rubeis had a convent built beside the church.
What to see
The church has a single nave, with a trussed roof. At the far end, the Baroque apse holds the chapel where the painting of the Madonna is kept.
Two other chapels are dedicated to St Francis and to Our Lady of Lourdes. Off the nave is a second room, that of the penitentiary, where a collection of ex-votos is gathered.
Visiting
Opening and Mass times should be checked on the spot. The church had further restorations at the beginning of the twentieth century and in 1987.
Our editors' tip
In 1753, for a short time, the church took the name «Santa Maria de Arudinientis», which was the old name of another church in Cerveteri, San Michele Arcangelo. Today's name, on the other hand, tells by itself of the finding of the image among the reeds.
