Santuario della Madonna di Canneto, Minor basilica and sanctuary in Settefrati, Italy.
Santuario della Madonna di Canneto is a sanctuary and minor basilica located at 1030 meters elevation in a mountain valley surrounded by forest and meadows. The church sits within a protected national park, offering a remote setting where pilgrims gather to worship in a simple stone structure framed by natural landscape.
Excavations in 1958 uncovered remains of an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Mefitis, showing the site held religious significance long before Christianity arrived. The location was later transformed into a Christian sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The wooden statue of the Madonna is the spiritual center of this place and is dressed in an embroidered silk mantle during religious ceremonies. Pilgrims come to pray before this figure, which has drawn devotion from the surrounding region for centuries.
The mountain path becomes slippery during rain or snow, so solid hiking boots and careful footing are essential for a safe visit. Visitors should dress in layers since weather changes quickly at this elevation.
Local tradition holds that in 819 the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherdess at this spot, and a water spring miraculously emerged from the ground. This ancient account shaped the sanctuary's spiritual importance and continues to draw pilgrims today.
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