CALABRIA. ITALY. PIZZO. THE PEDIGROTT CHURCH

Not far from Pizzo is an interesting church carved inside the mountain – Piedigrotta.

This cave was found by sailors quite by accident, when they were thrown after a storm on the shore. The old church of Piedigrotta, built in the Middle Ages, is striking. It is amazing how it could fit several halls and so many symbols of faith. The Church of Piedigrotta (Chiesa di Piedigrotta) is located a kilometer north of the city of Pizzo. In the 17th century, off this coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, a storm caught a sailing ship. The ship crashed on the rocks, and the crew, along with the icon of Madonna, was thrown ashore. The crew on the shore took refuge from the unabated storm in the cave. After some time, the sailors left the cave, and the icon of the Madonna was left in the cave. Later, local fishermen moved the icon to another place, but after another storm, they were surprised to find it in its original place, where it was found. And the fishermen had to cut down the altar in the cave and hang the ship's bell there, which remained after the shipwreck. It's a beautiful legend, but it's based on real events. This story so delighted the artist Angelo Barone that 200 years later, in 1900, he alone excavated the cave, deepening and expanding it. From the cave tuff, the artist made sculptural scenes from Holy Scripture. The work of the artist Angelo Barone continued for many years, until the spring of 1915. After Angelo’s death, his son, photographer and artist Alfonso Barone, continued to decorate the cave for 40 years. In 1969, Alfonso’s nephew, sculptor George Barone, returned from Canada and completed the work on the church. The church is working. Open in the morning from 9 to 13 and after lunch from 15 to 19.30. Masses are held there every day. Entrance for parishioners is free. If you are a tourist, you will have to buy a ticket. Adult ticket costs 3 euros, children under 6 years old enter free of charge. Free entry for disabled people and people over 65 years old. Entrance tickets can be bought at the bar. Then cross the road and go down to the sea on the stairs of 100 s.