Shrine of Our Lady of the Hens, Baroque shrine in Pagani, Italy.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Hens is a Baroque chapel in Pagani with a well-preserved eastern facade showing classical religious architecture. The building displays typical features of Baroque design from its period of construction.
The chapel began construction in 1610 following the discovery of a wooden panel depicting the Virgin of Carmel in a local chicken coop. This unusual finding became the founding event for a place of worship.
The feast of Our Lady of the Hens is held on the Sunday after Easter, when a statue of the Madonna del Carmine is carried on a cart pushed by the faithful. People offer poultry, mainly hens but also ducks, doves, turkeys and peacocks, along with sweets and rustic cakes. Along the route they set up toselli, votive shrines decorated with satin covers, lace and terracotta moulds, and the tammurriata music and dance continues until dawn on Monday.
The shrine welcomes visitors throughout the year and is situated in the Campania region. It helps to plan your visit around religious celebrations when the chapel is most active.
An unusual tradition involves offering hens to the Madonna during celebrations, reinforcing the connection to the original legend. This practice links the modern celebration to the old story in a very direct way.
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