In the municipality of Curtatone, in the province of Mantua, is the locality Le Grazie that interests us for two good reasons: the Sanctuary of Graces, a church of the fifteenth century dedicated to the Madonna, and the boarding of the 'Barcaioli del Mino', a group of expert fishermen and sailors.

Arriving in the hamlet you immediately notice the large square in front of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Normally, the square is deserted except for some local cats who pass in search of something to munch on. In August, however, the location completely changes its appearance. Where now we can't see that the gray flooring, in the middle days of August the square and its surroundings are full of artists and the public.

Dozens of street artists work on the pavement, the famous madonnaries, to complete their masterpieces. They come from all over the world in honor of Our Lady to participate in this very unique festival.

Very popular in Mantovano, the Fiera delle Grazie attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year eager to admire the beautiful plaster paintings. Going down the square, we enter the Sanctuary. Inside we find a rather unique collection of statues.

Not statues of saints or prelates of the Church but of normal people who praise Our Lady for the grace received. There are more than fifty of them and each of it has its own peculiarity, from the warrior to the farmer saved from certain death.

The statues are not of high artistic workmanship but most of the time they are coarse with faces and members dyed in rather garish colors. It is said that the statues were built of papier-mache even though studies showed that later these were replaced by statues made of more resistant materials.