Sant'Oronzo Church

The church stands above and protects the grotto where, according to local tradition, Saint Oronzo is believed to have lived and preached to the local population during the Apostolic Age.

Its construction is linked to an apparition of the Saint in 1726 to the Franciscan friar Fra Tommaso da Carbonara. According to tradition, Saint Oronzo asked for the site to be consecrated once and for all, foretelling that large numbers of faithful would soon come to visit it. In 1727, work therefore began on the external structure known as the “lucernario”, built to protect the ancient entrance to the grotto.

The church, whose construction also began in 1727, has an imposing screen façade and a square plan laid out in the form of a Greek cross. At its centre, an elegant staircase of white stone with wrought-iron railings descends approximately twelve metres into the grotto.

On the only landing along the staircase stands the Chapel of the Crucifix, which houses the crucifix carried by Fra Tommaso da Carbonara during the procession of 3 May 1726, held in fulfilment of the Saint’s request.

The church contains three altars with paintings depicting Saint Oronzo Blessing with Angels, Saint Peter of Alcántara Appearing to Saint Teresa of Ávila, and the Virgin with Saint John of Capistrano and Saint Andrew Avellino.

Following extensive restoration work, the church was reopened for worship in the year 2000.