In 2023, the sculpture MARIA carved in black Calatorao marble by the Italian artist Guido Dettoni della Grazia is installed in the Parish of Santa Joana Princesa in Lisbon.

This work of art consists of the 80 cm high sculpture MARIA carved in black Calatorao marble, supported by a 1 m high column of Andalusian creame marble.

“MARIA preta” as it’s called in Portuguese, has an intense itinerary after being exhibited since 2000 in Italy, Spain, and Germany. It arrived in Portugal in 2005 to be exhibited in the Church of Santa Isabel in Lisbon and continued to be in other places in that country.

Currently placed at the entrance porch of the church of Santa Joana Princesa, MARIA preta is a welcome presence. It is also welcoming those who come on the occasion of the celebration of the next XXXVII edition of the World Youth Day of the Catholic Church, specially dedicated to Our Lady. These Youth Days will be held in Portugal from 1 to 6 August 2023. It will be the first time that this gathering is to be held in Portugal, and the third in the Iberian Peninsula, after Santiago de Compostela in 1989 and Madrid in 2011.