Santa Maria degli Angeli, Catholic pilgrimage church and convent in Cassano delle Murge, Italy
Santa Maria degli Angeli is a pilgrimage church and convent located in Cassano delle Murge in southern Italy. Its interior features a central nave with several altars, including ones dedicated to Saint Rita and Saint Augustine, decorated with marble finishes.
The sanctuary originated in 1250 when a priest discovered an image of Mary of the Angels painted on a cave wall. This location became a refuge for local Christians during troubled times for religious practice.
The 18th-century front entrance features a relief carving showing Mary of the Angels watching over those who arrive. This image reflects how local communities connected the sanctuary to protection and divine care.
The site sits at 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level and offers visitors good views of the surrounding landscape. You can reach the sacred grotto through an artificial staircase built inside the main sanctuary building.
Archaeological digs in the cave unearthed bones from rhinoceroses and elephants from the Pleistocene period. These discoveries show that humans have visited this spot for thousands of years.
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