Statue of the Virgin Mary Destroyed at Ripoli Shrine
An unknown perpetrator destroyed a statue of the Madonna and Child in a roadside shrine in Bagno a Ripoli, across from the Ponti Gardens. With a heavy instrument, the perpetrator is believed to have struck the head of the figure of Mary, which was found shattered beneath the shrine. News of the incident provoked condemnation and initiative from the local community to assist in reparation of the statue.
According to a report from 31 October, the shrine located across from the Ponti gardens in Bagno a Ripoli was targeted in an attack. The perpetrator struck the statue of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus with a heavy instrument, causing her head to fall to the ground and shatter.
The incident drew condemnation on social media, with comments condemning the act as vile, and a local restorer offered to repair the damaged statue. The local mayor stated: "What would drive one or more people to do something like this is a mystery, and raises serious and uncomfortable questions that concern us all as a society."
Image: Lanazione.it