10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Province of Avellino That You Shouldn't Miss

Reviewed By cy_sg - Singapore, Singapore

My wife and I recently visited the beautiful Shrine of St Gerard Majella as part of our short but fruitful pilgrimage to Rome. We rented a car for the drive from downtown Rome and the entire journey took at least 4-5 hours. This was a very scenic drive that took us through rural countryside, charming small towns and picturesque landscapes - thank goodness for GPS! Arriving at the small town of Materdomini, we were immediately greeted by the unmistakable roof of the newer Basilica. There’s a large car park adjacent to the Basilica and we had no issues finding parking on the quiet August Friday that we were there. The Basilica and surrounding compound is large - from the newer but majestic wing with its winged roof structure and stained glass to the old Church where St Gerard’s remains lie, there is a sense of peace and tranquility that provided a serene and contemplative atmosphere. We took our time to explore the different parts of the compound - from the chapel where St Gerard’s body lies, to the little museum with numerous paintings and objects that provided an insight to this powerful Redemptorist saint’s life, to the beautiful and poignant Room of Bows, where countless parents and children have offered photographs and baby paraphernalia of their successful conception and birth of their children, through the intercession and help of St Gerard Majella. We spent close to 2 hours at the shrine and would have loved to spend a lot more. I thoroughly recommend making a visit to Materdomini, if your schedule permits - it’s closer to Naples than Rome - to soak in the atmosphere and to see the life and impact of this great saint.