Santuario della Madonna d'Appari, Catholic shrine in Paganica, Italy
The Santuario della Madonna d'Appari is a shrine in Paganica set between a rocky wall and the Raiale stream, with a rectangular facade topped by a bell gable that contains three openings. The altar area sits close to the cliff face behind it, following the natural contours of the rock.
Local people built the shrine in the 13th century after a shepherdess named Maddalena Chiaravalle reported seeing the Virgin Mary at this location. The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake caused significant damage to the building, but restoration efforts allowed it to reopen to visitors in 2011.
The interior walls display frescoes from the 16th and 17th century showing religious stories in a comic-strip style that taught visitors who could not read. These painted scenes remain one of the main reasons people visit this small shrine today.
The shrine sits in a rural area near the city, meaning you need your own transport to reach it and accessibility is limited. Visit during daylight hours to see the interior frescoes clearly and appreciate the natural rock formations around the building.
The presbytery is designed to follow the irregular shape of the cliff face behind the altar, giving the interior an asymmetrical quality that takes visitors by surprise. This unusual approach shows how builders chose to work with the natural geology rather than alter it.
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