Basilica of Our Lady of the Tears, Syracuse

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Tears is a 20th-century Roman Catholic Marian shrine. This modern and distinctive church, colloquially referred to by some as an "inverted ice-cream cone," stands as a dominant feature on the approach to Ortigia, Syracuse's historic center. The church's design was the result of an international competition, and it was created by the architects Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat, with Riccardo Morandi serving as the chief engineer.

Construction of this unique shrine began in 1966 but was only completed in 1994. During the construction process, an unexpected discovery was made – the foundations contained a crypt, believed to be a paleo-Christian mausoleum. This crypt is now located in the lower levels of the church. The original design envisioned an even taller structure, but it was eventually truncated to its current height of 103 meters.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Tears is situated adjacent to the Catacombs of San Giovanni and the Basilica of San Marziano. The construction and design of the sanctuary sparked significant controversy. There are various interpretations of the church's unique design, with some suggesting that it resembles a giant teardrop colliding with the Earth. The construction over an archaeological site required special permissions, and many were divided on the decision to erect such an ambitious structure to commemorate the purported miracle.

The miracle in question allegedly took place from August 29 to September 1, 1953, when a plaster icon of the Madonna of the Immaculate Heart was believed to have shed tears in the presence of an impoverished local couple, including a fisherman husband. Crowds of people claimed to have witnessed this event, and even scientific analyses of the fluids were conducted. The icon was subsequently moved from the couple's residence on Via degli Orti to the basilica.

The first stone for the basilica's construction was consecrated in 1954. In 2002, Pope John Paul II elevated the sanctuary to the status of a minor basilica. Furthermore, in 2019, the Episcopal Conference of Sicily granted it the title of a regional sanctuary.

Atop the basilica's dome, a gilded bronze statue of the Madonna, adorned with rings and rays, was created by Francesco Caldarella. The square altar within the basilica features a bronze base with four panels depicting scenes from the apocalyptic visions of the Book of Revelation.