Santuario Madonna di Capocolonna, Crotone

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The sanctuary of Santa Maria di Capo Colonna is located near the archaeological area of ​​Capo Colonna, on the Lacinio promontory, near Crotone, and houses a particularly venerated icon. The building is located near the temple dedicated to Hera Lacinia, of which only one Doric column remains today. The current structure was erected by the Basilian monks of Salice Salentino probably between the 11th and 13th centuries and certainly before the 16th century, when the church and the icon were described in the Book of Miracles, a manuscript that tells of an Ottoman attempt to destroy or steal the picture that would have happened in 1519. The church was subjected to numerous alterations over the centuries. In the eighteenth century it was transformed into a hermitage and in 1897 it assumed its current appearance due to the expansion designed by the Marquis Anselmo Berlingeri. The sacred icon of the Madonna di Capo Colonna is the most representative image of the city of Crotone and its cult has been a symbol for all Crotone for centuries, even if it is not possible to outline a precise historical picture. With regard to the sacred image, in fact, the stories that have come down to us are not always reliable and it is not possible to trace information in the historical ecclesiastical archives of Crotone, because most of the sources preserved in them were destroyed in a fire that broke out in the basilica and in the city ​​bishop around the 16th century. The news that has come down to us are ancient tales that intertwine historical sources with legendary stories. The most reliable historical sources tell that already in ancient times, the people of Crotoni made annual pilgrimages to the promontory of Capo Lacinio to celebrate and thank Hera, the goddess of life and fertility. With the advent of Christianity this pagan cult was replaced by the veneration of the Virgin Mary. In fact, the oldest tradition tells that the sacred image of Byzantine origin was brought to the Crotone promontory by San Dionigi, an Athenian judge who, after being converted to Christianity by San Paolo, arrived in Crotone and became its first bishop. For the people of Crotone, the month of May is entirely dedicated to the festival in honor of the Virgin of Capo Colonna. Every seven years the festival takes on a solemn tone because, instead of the modern miniature, the "original" painting is carried in procession. The annual nocturnal pilgrimage takes place on the third Saturday in May, in which the faithful from Crotone accompany the icon of the Virgin from the cathedral to the promontory of Capo Colonna, where the sanctuary dedicated to her is located. The large picture or the quadricello remain in the little church of Capo Colonna for Sunday only, and the same evening they are embarked and transported by sea to the port of Crotone, where the sacred image is welcomed by the faithful who take it back to the cathedral. During the "seven-yearly" celebration, the return is not made by sea, but the painting of the Virgin is placed on a cart pulled by oxen and travels along the same road that the faithful take during the Saturday night pilgrimage. (source: Wikipedia)

A sanctuary located in a place I would say unique due to the archaeological park of Capo Colonna and the breathtaking view over the entire coast in front of Crotone.

Beautiful. Intimate. On the seashore....special

Evocative and pleasant place to see, very beautiful at sunset!