The hermitage of Santa Maria Maggiore del Piano, inhabited since 1510 by irregular lay hermits authorised by Bishop D. Dalmazio Gabriele to wear the habit, withstood the earthquake of 1693 almost completely, while the adjacent church was destroyed.
Subsequently, the church was rebuilt and renovated several times, until recently, when the frescoes in the apse were restored.
The façade has a sandstone door surmounted by a central window and a small bell tower with a cross.
The interior, with a single nave, is decorated in Baroque style with a large presence of numerous and colourful frescoes depicting various saints.
Above the altar there is a Madonna with Child by Vaccaro.
The canvas depicting the Madonna del Piano is a copy of the original, which was lost or stolen.
The large stone cross in front of the church was built in 1686 by Prince Carlo Maria Carafa, founder of Grammichele, as a sundial for the recitation of the Angelus.
