Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest in Italy

Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and, of course, home to an almost overwhelming number of places of interest to Catholics. There is a certain mystique to Italy that beckons people from all over the world to its fertile valleys and bustling, yet ancient, cities. In addition to the obvious location of Rome, here are just a few of the hundreds of places that are popular. The number of saints that Italy has produced is so numerous that many people have never heard of some of them. And many towns and cities have annual festivals to honor their saints. You could spend a lifetime in Italy and probably not come close to seeing everything the country has to offer.

Italy’s Italian Peninsula stretches approximately 600 miles (960 km) from the region of the Po River in the north to the tip of the boot in the south.

In addition to many beautiful churches you will find many Eucharistic Miracles, holy sites such as the Holy House of Loreto, and other reminders of how much Catholic history there is in this country

Some of the major places of interest to Catholics in Italy:

Alatri: Eucharistic Miracle in the Cathedral of Saint Paul the Apostle

Albano:  Cathedral of Saint Pancras

Amalfi Town: Relics of the Apostle Andrew

Assisi: Basilicas of Saint Francis & Saint Clare; Saint Mary of the Angels; Saint Carlos Acutis

Asti: picturesque town with great Catholic sites

Bagnoregio:  Church of Bonaventure with his relic

Bari: Saint Nicholas of Bari

Bergamo: Pope John XXIII Institute

Bologna: Saint Catherine of Bologna, Saint Dominic, Blessed Immelda Lambertini

Bovino: Sanctuary of Our Lady of Valleverde

Bra:  Miracle of Our Lady of the Flowers

Brescia: Tomb of St. Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline Order

Camposampiero (near Padua): Shrines to Saint Anthony

Caposele:  Saint Gerard’s Shrine (Materdomini)

Capri:  Church of Saint Michael the Archangel on the island of Capri

Caravaggio:  Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio

Casale:  Grave of Blessed Sandra Sabattini

Cascia: Saint Rita of Cascia, Eucharistic Miracle of Cascia

Castel Gandolfo: The Pope’s summer residence; Catholic Technical University

Castellarano: Tomb of Blessed Rolando Rivi

Castello:  Tomb of Saint Margaret of Castello

Castelpetroso: Santuario Maria Santissima Adolorate (Our Lady of Sorrows Shrine)

Chiusdino: Abbey of Saint Gulgano & the Sword in the Stone

Cividale del Friuli: Our Lady’s image and a wonderful small town

Cocullo: the Festival of the Snakes

Codogno:  Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Center of Spirituality

Corato:  Tomb of Luisa Piccarretta (Daughter of Divine Will)

Corinaldo:  Birthplace of St Maria Goretti & tomb of her murderer

Cortona: Sanctuary of St. Margaret of Cortona

Cosenza:  Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption & Shrine of Our Lady of Pilerio

Cremona: Cathedral, birthplace of Stradivarius violins

Cursi: Shrine of Our Lady of Abundance

Faenza:  Tomb of Saint Peter Damian in the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle

Florence: Birthplace of the Renaissance…many Catholic places to visit

Foggia: Shrine of Our Lady Mother of God

Foligno: Blessed Angela of Foligno

Forli:  Basilica of the Holy Cross;

Gargano:  Mont Saint Angelo ( St. Michael’s Cave)

Genazzano: Our Lady of Good Counsel Shrine

Genoa: Saint Catherine of Genoa

Genoa area: Mount Figogna, Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Watch

Ghiaie di Bonate: Apparitions of Our Lady Queen of the Family

Gorizia:  Cathedral and picturesque town

Greccio: first Manger scene by Saint Francis

Gubbio: monument to Saint Francis and the wolf

Imola: Cathedral of Saint Cassian

L’Aquila: Tomb of Pope Celestine V & Shrine of St. John Paul II

Lanciano: Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

La Verna: Where St. Francis received the Stigmata

Loreto: Holy House of Loreto

Lucca:  Sanctuary of Saint Gemma Galgani

Magreglio: Chapel of the Madonna del Ghisallo (patron saint of cyclists: church & museum)

Manoppello: Veronica’s Veil (the Holy Face of Jesus)

Matera: 8th-century church known for its well-preserved Byzantine-style frescoes from the 13th and 14th century

Mesero: Sanctuary of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Milan: Many Catholic places of interest including The Last Supper, Basilica of Saint Ambrose

Montefalco: Saint Clare of Montefalco (Saint Clare of the Cross)

Montecassino: Abbey of Saint Benedict (tombs of St Benedict & St Scholastica)

Monterchi: Fresco of Madonna del Parto

Montichiari & Fontanelle: Our Lady of Rosa Mystica

Mugnano del Cardinal (close to Naples): Shrine of Saint Philomena

Naples & Surrounding area: Basilica of Naples & Blood of Saint Januarius,

Nettuno: Saint Maria Goretti

Norcia: Monastery of St Benedict & Monks of Norcia

Oliveto Citra: Apparitions of Our Lady

Oropa: One of the oldest Marian shrines in the world.

Osimo: Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Orvieto: Eucharistic Miracle of Orvieto

Padua: Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua; Sanctuary of St. Leopold Mandic

Pavia: Saint Augustine of Hippo

Pietrelcina: Birthplace of Saint Padre Pio

Pinerolo:  Shrine of Our Lady of Grace

Piratello:  Sanctuary of Our Lady of Piratelleo

Poggio Picenze: Church of San Felice Martire (Saint Felix, Martyr)

Pompeii: Our Lady of Pompeii & Blessed Bartolo Longo

Ravenna:  Churches with beautiful mosaics

Reggio Emilia: Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Ghiara

Rome, the “Eternal City”: Including Vatican City; Saint Peter’s & countless Churches & Shrines

Salerno:  Cathedral of Saint Matthew (Relics of Saint Matthew)

San Giovanni Rotondo: Shrine of Saint Padre Pio

Sant Ambrogio di Torino (Sacra di San Michele): Benedictine Abbey of Saint Michael

Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy: Birthplace of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Sansepulcro: Magnificent art works in Tuscany

Santa Domenica, Cosenza:  Shrine of Our Lady of the Rock (Madonna dello Scoglio) (approved Marian apparition)

Sardinia (Cagliari): Our Lady of Bonario

Sassello: Grave of Blessed Chiara Badano

Schio:  Shrine of Saint Josephine Bakhita

Sicily: Part of Italy….yet set apart    Many Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest

Sidolo:  Grave of Father Giuseppe Beotti

Siena: St. Catherine of Siena, Eucharistic Miracle of Siena; Baptistry of Saint John the Baptist (Battistero di San Giovanni Battisto)

Sordevolo: The Sordevolo Passion Play

Spello: The Festival of the Flowers

Termoli:  Termoli Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Purification) relics of Saint Timothy & Saint Bassus

Tolentino:  Basilica of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino & tomb of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Tre Fontane: Virgin of the Revelation (outskirts of Rome)

Tre Fontane: Church of Saint Paul at the Three Fountains (outskirts of Rome)

Trento:  Charming town and Site of the Council of Trent

Trieste: Basilica of Our Lady of Montegrisa

Turin: Shroud of Turin, Saint John Bosco, Saint Pier Georgio Frassati, Saint Mary Mazzarello, Saint Dominic Savio, Sacre di San Michele, Basilica of Corpus Domini

Venice: Many Catholic Shrines & Places of Interest

Verona: Basilica of Our Lady of Corona, Basilica of Saint Anasthasia, Duomo of Verona

Vicenza: Basilica of Sts. Felice & Fortunato, Sanctuary of Monte Berico

Vicoforte: Shrine of Our Lady

Viterbo: Palace of the Popes & birthplace of the Conclave

One small city-state (independent country, but surrounded by Italy):  San Marino

Enjoying your trip to Italy:

Coffee is a favorite in Italy…check out our rules for coffee-drinking in Italy.

And, of course, you must try Italy’s delicious treat…Gelato..check out our article on how to find real gelato.

If you are traveling on your own, we recommend travel by train.  Stations are conveniently located, travel is fast and easy.  You can find scedules and get train tickets online here.

And, if you are on a gluten-free diet, check out this page about gluten-free in Italy

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