Devotional imagery has long been a part of Roman tradition and placing a painting or statue of a deity at a crossroads, lare compita, was thought to protect passersby from demons that could come out at night.
Madonnelle, or streets shrines, guard Italian street corners and intersections and even the roads outside cities. They have been a part of the Italian city and landscape for hundreds of years and typically are of the Madonna with or without the Christ Child. The images can be prints, paintings, mosaics, marble, wooden or terracotta, and are often enclosed in a frame for protection from the elements. Some have lights, some now have metal gates for protection from vandals, and many have been neglected, but some are kept up beautifully.
A few people keep the old traditions and make the sign of the cross or say a short prayer while passing by, but one wonders how many even notice them anymore. They have always fascinated me and these are some that caught my attention while on my Italian adventure this year.

• Padre Pio: Minori Padre Pio: Minori
• Greve in Chianti Greve in Chianti
• Palermo, Secondo Circoscrizione Palermo, Secondo Circoscrizione
• Minori, “Regna o... Minori, “Regna o...
• Minori, “Le Anime... Minori, “Le Anime...
• Tropea, Calabria Tropea, Calabria
• Noci, San Vito,... Noci, San Vito,...
• Rome, Piazza del... Rome, Piazza del...
• Rome, Piazza del... Rome, Piazza del...
• Greve in Chianti Greve in Chianti
• Montelupo Fiorentino Montelupo Fiorentino
• Camogli, del Buon... Camogli, del Buon...
• Malcesine Malcesine
• Malcesine, Mount Baldo Malcesine, Mount Baldo
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