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A Marian Apparition and Memory

A Summer Read Rooted in Italy's Mountains, Introducing Broken Madonna and Its Author

In Atina, in the mountainous heart of Lazio, far from Rome's bustling piazzas and tourist crowds, a young girl claims to have seen the Madonna (a Marian Apparition). Her story, quiet yet profound, forms the core of Broken Madonna, the debut novel by Anna Lucia. The book explores one of the most mysterious and emotionally charged phenomena in Catholic tradition: the Marian apparition.

A Marian apparition is said to occur when the Virgin Mary appears to an individual or group, often children, conveying messages of faith, hope, or warning. Some of the most famous include Lourdes in France and Fatima in Portugal. But in Broken Madonna, Maria Lucia has rooted her fictional account in a lesser-known but deeply personal setting: the post-war mountain village of Atina, nestled in the Ciociaria area of Lazio.

Ciociara, 1889 - Enrique Simonet

A Life Between Two Worlds

Anna Lucia was born in England to older Italian immigrant parents, but she spent her childhood summers in Atina. The book is a loving tribute to that region, where, as she puts it, "every single one of my ancestors hails from." That deep ancestral connection inspired her to write a story that captures ordinary lives shaped by extraordinary events.

Though Anna Lucia hasn’t returned recently to Atina, she doesn’t feel distant from it. “I don’t need to be there to have it in my heart,” she says. The town lives on in her memory and writing. Her vivid sensory memories of Atina—its wooded hills, stoic women in black, rustic food, and the dialect of her parents—are infused throughout the novel.

Plot, Mystery, and the Marian Apparition

Set in post–World War II Italy, Broken Madonna follows the life of an eight-year-old girl who experiences a vision of the Madonna while living in an orphanage. Unlike her friend Adelina, who witnesses nothing, Elizabeth continues to have these visions—each followed by a seizure. Is this the divine, or is it trauma?

Anna Lucia explains: "I was interested in what people believe in life and what they act on." Her fascination with Marian apparitions and her own experience listening to stories from older relatives helped shape the book's spiritual and emotional center.

The novel also draws on real-life inspiration: Angela Volpini, an Italian visionary who claimed to experience monthly Marian apparitions from age eight to 15. Anna Lucia explores the psychology of faith, doubt, and belief—leaving readers with a haunting question: Did Elizabeth really see the Madonna?

Women, Faith, and a Feminist Lens

Broken Madonna is a feminist reimagining of spiritual tradition. Anna Lucia introduces the figure of Saint Scholastica, sister of Saint Benedict, who lived near Atina in Monte Cassino and lead a non-patriarchal spiritual community. This bold narrative choice places women’s strength and insight at the heart of the story.

Monte Cassino near Atina, locale of the "Broken Madonna's" Marian apparition
Monte Cassino - photo credit

While the novel critiques patriarchal figures within the Catholic Church, it also shows compassion for characters like Sister Beatrice and Giulio, a war-damaged soldier who finds healing through Elizabeth’s presence. Religion is not the villain here—rigid systems are.

A Novel of Relationships and Intergenerational Memory

More than a religious story, Broken Madonna is a novel about relationships: between friends, between generations, and between people and their homeland. Anna Lucia’s fascination with epigenetics—the idea that trauma can be inherited—runs through the story like a quiet current. Her own family history, shaped by migration, war, and cultural hybridity, reflects the novel’s deeper questions: How do we carry memory? What do we pass on?

Discovering Atina: Off the Beaten Path in Lazio

Atina may be unknown to many travelers, but it's a gem worth visiting. Surrounded by wooded hills and just a short drive from Montecassino, it offers timeless beauty and deep history. Lucia describes it as “timeless Italy,” a place where community and tradition remain strong.

Atina, locale of the "Broken Madonna's" Marian apparition
photo credit Anna Lucia

Visitors can enjoy the Atina's jazz festival in July, a wine festival celebrating its Cabernet-based DOC wines, and of course, the region’s famed white beans. Lucia remembers them vividly from her parents’ kitchen—served simply in salads with olive oil and vinegar.

Nearby Montecassino, founded by Saint Benedict, is one of the most spiritually evocative sites in Italy. The panoramic views and serene atmosphere invite a sense of awe, regardless of one’s faith.

Why Broken Madonna Belongs on Your Summer Reading List

Despite its themes of faith and spirituality, Broken Madonna is not a religious book. “It’s a story about people and relationships,” Lucia says. It’s an accessible yet deeply thoughtful novel, perfect for summer reading—whether you’re on the beach, a terrace in Italy, or curled up at home.

The novel explores belief, identity, memory, and healing with grace and nuance. It invites readers into the mystery of Marian apparitions while grounding them in the earthy, intimate world of rural post-war Italy.

You can find Anna Lucia’s debut novel Broken Madonna online and at select bookstores. For more about the region of Atina and the tradition of Marian apparitions, visit flavorofitaly.com.

"Broken Madonna's" tale. of relationships and a Marian apparition

Explore More Italian Adventures and Reads

If Broken Madonna has sparked your interest in Italy's rich tapestry of culture, history, and spirituality, you might enjoy these curated selections from Flavor of Italy:

Past Italian-Inspired Summer Reading Lists

Enchanting Day Trips from Rome

Art, Culture, and Spirituality

Peeking through the fence at Saint Peters!

Feel free to explore these articles to deepen your appreciation of Italy's multifaceted heritage and perhaps inspire your next adventure or reading choice.

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