Sanctuary of Most Holy Mary from the Height, Catholic shrine at Monte Bonifato in Alcamo, Italy.
The Sanctuary of Most Holy Mary from the Height sits at the top of Monte Bonifato and contains a single nave church with three altars dedicated to different saints. A pathway with fourteen stations of the Cross from 1703 leads up to the complex.
The site was founded in 1558 when three Carmelite friars discovered a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary on the mountain and built the first documented church. The stations of the Cross were added later in 1703.
The sanctuary draws pilgrims during celebrations between August and September, with a major procession held on September 8th for the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. These gatherings show the deep connection local people maintain with this holy site.
The sanctuary is reached via an uphill pathway that follows the route of the stations, requiring time for a leisurely walk to the summit. Bring appropriate footwear and water, especially on warm days.
Local tradition holds that young women in the 16th century would dress as the Virgin Mary and walk up to this sanctuary to request rainfall. This practice reveals how people linked the sacred to their everyday needs.
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