This place is one of my favourite sites on the planet. It is a beautiful little town named Gargano on the top of a mountain in Puglia, a place in Southern Italy renowned for its good food. One can get there flying into either Bari or Pescara airports, which are both equally far from the town. Most people in the know go to Gargano from San Giovanni Rotondo. This place was a pilgrimage haunt of Padre Pio, as well as Saint Francis, Saint Lucy, and several others. The story goes that in the late 500th century, Saint Michael appeared on this hill by the cave and asked the bishop to build a church nearby where people could worship God, and he granted his protection from invaders. The church was built, and Saint Michael protected the people and appeared three times, and when the bishop asked if the saint would like him to consecrate the cave in his honour, Saint Michael replied that he himself had consecrated the cave and that no evil shall enter it.
The cave is quite small and is a church, with an otherworldly small statue of Saint Michael by the altar. To get there one needs to walk down several hundreds of steps and the feeling and smell of the air is a clear and ancient one. It is beautiful inside and out. There is a separate chapel in the cave where confessions are constantly heard, and an air of sacredness to the place. Most visitors including myself stay at the Casa dei Pellegrini conveniently located adjacent to the cave, from which one can take a lift right into the shrine.
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| Side view of the church and entrance to the cave |
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| Entrance says this is a holy place and is the gate to heaven |
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| Inside the cave after Mass |
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| Statue of Saint Michael by the altar |
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| View from top of Monte Sant'Angelo |
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| Also home to the world's best cup of hot chocolate |
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| Cave entrance |
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