santuario, diocesano, Santuario di San Francesco di Paola

On the Calabrian coast, the Santuario Diocesano di San Francesco di Paola stands as a witness to both calamity and deliverance. Built in the late sixteenth century, the church was originally dedicated to San Rocco, after the city of Pizzo was spared from a devastating plague. The site itself occupies the ground where the epidemic’s victims were buried, a sombre foundation for a place of thanksgiving.

The sanctuary belongs to the Order of Minims, and its history is one of resilience. Badly damaged by the 1908 earthquake, it was rebuilt through local devotion. In 2013, it was elevated to a diocesan sanctuary, reflecting the enduring bond between the town and San Francesco di Paola, who is particularly venerated as patron of those who work at sea.

Today, the main feast is held on the third Sunday of May, when a procession winds through Pizzo’s streets and concludes with a blessing of the sea, a fitting rite for a sanctuary whose saint watches over sailors and fishermen.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.