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The Sanctuary of Maria SS. di Pietrasanta is a place of great spiritual and historical value, located in the picturesque Cilento National Park. It is located about 2 km from the town of San Giovanni a Piro, in the province of Salerno, at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the Gulf of Policastro.
The shrine is accessible either by a paved road or by the ancient stone path, a historic and winding route that can only be traveled on foot. This path, once walked by pilgrims, adds a touch of authenticity and contemplation to the journey to the shrine.
The shrine's history is closely linked to the Basilian monks of the nearby Cenoby of St. John the Baptist. Around 1200, it was these monks who carved the statue of Our Lady on the monolithic tip of the Piccotta mountain, forming one with the niche in the rock. This act of devotion marked the beginning of the veneration of the place as a sacred site.
Originally, the shrine was a rock chapel with a small, semi-cylindrical apse, able to accommodate only a few dozen worshippers. Over the centuries, the chapel was expanded several times, but only part of the apse remains today of the original building. The present church has a single nave and a characteristic layout: its development is not aligned with the chancel, since the latter was built on an irregular plane, following the conformation of the rock.
The architecture of the sanctuary is simple but striking, with some adjoining rooms that were once used as dwellings for the janitors and monks. Outside, next to the sacristy, stands the three-story campanile, built on the peak of the rock and equipped with two bells. This bell tower not only served the function of a liturgical reminder, but also served as a landmark for wayfarers.
A few steps away from the bell tower is a spring of water, long believed to be miraculous. This spring, venerated by the faithful, is considered a tangible manifestation of the divine presence, and many pilgrims still go there today in the hope of obtaining healings and graces.
The Sanctuary of Mary Most Holy of Pietrasanta is not only a place of worship, but a symbol of the deep spirituality that permeates the Cilento region, uniting history, nature and faith in an unbreakable union.
