It is located at the foot of a rocky wall and represents the symbol of the Christian religiosity of the Alburni Mountains. From the historical-archaeological investigations carried out over the years, it can be seen that the cave was already used in prehistoric times as a refuge. Several millennia later, the cave became a Christian sanctuary dedicated to Saint Michael... #UNESCO #tuttitaly
The Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel, located near Sant'Angelo a Fasanella (SA), represents a symbol of religiousness and Christian art in the Monti Alburni. This place, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the enchanting Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, has an ancient history rooted in prehistoric times when it was used as a refuge.
Through historical-archaeological investigations, it emerged that the cave later became a religious site dedicated to the worship of water, with stalactites and stalagmites venerated as sacred icons. Over the millennia, this holy place was transformed into a Christian Sanctuary devoted to Saint Michael, with legends telling of its discovery by a local prince.
Today, visiting the Cave of Saint Michael the Archangel means immersing oneself in a fascinating environment where the sacred and art blend in a unique union.
The entrance to the Sanctuary, characterized by a magnificent fifteenth-century portal, introduces visitors to a suggestive environment adorned with stalagmites scattered on the floor and ancient tombs with mummified human remains.
Inside the Sanctuary, one can admire extraordinary artworks, such as a seventeenth-century altar dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and a statue of the Virgin Mary with Child attributed to the Neapolitan school of the fourteenth century. All this surrounds a well lined with seventeenth-century Neapolitan ceramics and a Caracciolo emblem carved in stone.
Furthermore, the allure of the Sanctuary does not end there: about five meters above ground, a small roofed niche stands out against the rock, creating a unique theatrical backdrop that combines the majesty of nature with human creativity. The wings of the Archangel Michael, painted on the rock centuries ago, bear witness to the sacredness and beauty of this place that continues to enchant visitors with its ancient history.
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