SHARRYLAND
The little chapel of St. Mary of the Saints, in Rapone
A small country chapel 5 km from the village set in a wide, colorful and fascinating rural landscape in any season. Don't miss the festival every first Sunday in May
Where is
Where is the Chapel of Santa Maria dei Santi in Rapone
The Chapel of Santa Maria dei Santi is located north of Rapone: it can be reached from the village via the SP 2 road, just before Basilicata meets Campania. Surrounded as it is by the countryside around Rapone, it appears as the star of a changing show of colors that renews with every season: the fertile land, used for crops, gently follows the rolling hills and, bathed in sunlight, seems to shine in return. Amidst all this beauty, there she is, the chapel, a white dot in the midst of so much charm.
Why it’s special: the miraculous statue
Santa Maria dei Santi is a countryside chapel, and as such, it is modest in size and has a simple appearance. The façade is preceded by a small stone and brick-paved churchyard that blends softly into the surrounding grass, without drawing a harsh line that would separate the chapel from nature. Inside, in the single nave of the small church, there is a statue of the Madonna connected to a miracle. A little curiosity: dating back to 1131, this chapel is the oldest place of worship in Rapone.
Don’t miss: the miracle of the statue and the May festival
It is said that once, people tried to move the statue to the village. As they carried it, it gradually became heavier and heavier, until the bearers gave up. They turned back to the chapel, and on the way back, the statue became light again: it was returning to where it wanted to be. In memory of this event, every first Sunday in May, a procession goes from the chapel to the place where the carriers were forced to stop.
Celebrations at the Chapel of Santa Maria dei Santi
The chapel isn’t always open, so if you want to admire the miraculous statue, you’ll need to check the dates. The first Sunday in May is definitely the best time to join a deeply felt local devotion, but there are other opportunities to enter the chapel: every Saturday in May, mass is celebrated there. Those who wish to attend can walk from Rapone, just as the most devoted followers of the Marian tradition do.
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The Map thanks:
PNRR M1C3 Misura 2 Investimento 2.1, Linea B "Attrattività dei borghi" CUP H59G22000030006
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