Church of Maria Santissima Immacolata, Scilla

Chiesa Maria Santissima Immacolata, Scilla
The mother church of the Santissima Immacolata di Scilla is also called the church "Mesa" or half because it is located at the crossroads of the streets that lead to the three main districts of the country: Marina Grande, Chianalea and San Giorgio. The current building was built on a pre-existing church dedicated to Santa Maria Cattolica and part of the ancient Basilian monastery of San Pancrazio. In the sixteenth century it was badly damaged by earthquakes, so much so that it had to undergo extensive renovations, which also led to an expansion of the structure. The church also suffered the same fate in the eighteenth century, with an earthquake that collapsed the entire central vault, and in 1908, when the rear and the interior of the colonnade on the west side were demolished.
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Many Italian churches are dedicated to the Mother of God Mary and thus have a "SANTA MARIA" (sometimes, as here, increased to "SANTISSIMA") in their name. This church in Scilla has the addition "IMMACOLATA", so it is dedicated to the "Immaculate Conception" of the Mother of God.
This term, which today may sound a bit theoretical and difficult to understand, is intended to say that the Mother of God was freed from the beginning by the grace of God from the burden of original sin - which otherwise every person carries within themselves. This meant that when the archangel later announced to her in Nazareth that she would give birth to the Son of God, she was willing to answer YES of her own free will.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX elevated this article of faith to dogma. The feast for this occasion - and at the same time the patronage of this church here - which in the Catholic liturgy is called the "Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary without Original Sin" is celebrated annually on December 8th.

The current church building dates from the 1970s, but the church was only completed in the late 1990s, see calabriaportal.com/scilla/5020-scilla.html#fontana-sirena
The church is open during the day and has a beautiful modern mosaic.