Santuario di San Francesco di Paola, Minor basilica and shrine in Paola, Italy.
The Santuario di San Francesco di Paola is a minor basilica in southern Italy built with Gothic architectural elements. The church contains a main hall with side chapels, stained glass windows, and an adjoining cloister, while a natural spring runs beneath the complex.
Saint Francis of Paola established a hermitage at this location between 1435 and 1452, which later became a major pilgrimage center. The site gradually developed into a religious complex with a church, monastery, and cave structures.
The cloister displays 17th-century frescoes showing scenes from the saint's life and spiritual journey. These artworks help visitors connect with the local devotion to Francis of Paola that has shaped this place.
The sanctuary welcomes visitors during regular opening hours and offers guided tours through the religious complex. It is helpful to wear comfortable shoes, as the site includes multiple levels and pathways leading to caves and natural springs.
Along a pathway on the grounds sits an unexploded bomb from World War II that failed to detonate during the conflict. It remains today as a quiet reminder of how this place endured the chaos of war.
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