For some, cars are a religion
Italy, undoubtedly influenced by the presence of the Papal State, which for centuries has been a strong cultural and political presence, is now one of the most popular destinations for religious tourism, especially in the world of art. Italy is scattered with places of worship and devotion, attracting pilgrims and leaving behind monumental legacies and paintings signed by excellence in art over the centuries.
Tiziano, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Bernini, Borromini, Raphael. These are just a few of the artists who, supported by incredibly wealthy patrons and some of the most influential families in Italy, created some of the most beautiful works related to religion, attempting to represent the Mystery of Faith and make it tangible to all. In Rome alone, there are more than 900 churches, and throughout Italy, there are countless fascinating and historically important places of worship. Today, Edilfar Rent proposes an unusual and niche travel itinerary, exploring history, religion, and culture together. Let's take a look at some places to visit this summer:
CALIFORNIA LIKE UMBRIA La Porziuncola
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina Virgen de los Ángeles del Río de la Porciúncula de Asís. This is the name that some Hispanic Franciscan friars gave to a small village in deepest California in 1769. Over time, the full name fell away, omitting two words that have survived to this day: Los Angeles. The headquarters of the Universal film company and the renowned district of Beverly Hills have a frugal and merciful origin, a memory of small Assisi and the curious church hidden by the larger Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Umbrian city: the Porziuncola. Some hermits from Palestine built it on Mount Subasio, later inhabited by Saint Benedict and his monks until Saint Francis restored it, making it a beloved place for prayer and following the Gospel. In 1205, he founded the Franciscan Order, which is why in 1216 it was consecrated, and the so-called Pardon of Assisi was proclaimed, a plenary indulgence that can be obtained between August 1 and 2. A small church steeped in history and mysticism, enclosed by the much larger Basilica: Assisi and its Franciscan history are one of the ideal destinations for those who want to find the depth of religiosity, embraced by fascinating panoramas that provide tranquility and discernment, letting themselves be overwhelmed by the faith of those around us who come to visit these places every year.
THE CATHEDRAL OF THE DOLOMITES Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pietralba
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pietralba stands powerful and majestic in the beautiful natural landscape of Val d'Ega. In this uncontaminated place, in 1533, it is said that the Madonna appeared to a local farmer who fell into a ravine. After this event, he built a chapel in her honor, which was later expanded and still represents a suggestive place of pilgrimage. A place of worship nestled in a landscape as sharp as it is welcoming in the Dolomite landscapes, which even Pope John Paul II could not avoid visiting, both for pleasure excursions and in 1988 during a visit to the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a place rich in energy, a comfort for the eyes, head, and mind. The mountain has always been synonymous with asceticism and approaching God, and no place conveys the idea of approaching serenity as much as this one.
THE BASILICA OF THE SAINT Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua
Every year, about 6 million pilgrims come to visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony to pay homage to one of the most revered saints in Christianity, and also one of the most "particular": in fact, around here, he is rarely named and is assumed to be "Il Santo" (The Saint). This cultural peculiarity fits into the famous "three without" that characterize the city of Padua: being the city of the Saint without a name, the city without doors of a café, and the city of a garden without grass. Since 2021, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, housing the tomb and relics of the Lusitanian friar, as well as some works by Giotto and evidence of centuries of interventions and embellishments. It is a huge church that welcomes faithful, curious people, and tourists, as well as unfolding into an elegant and intimate cloister from which you can see the sunset coloring the wall of the Basilica with the shadows of the lacework of the surrounding structure.
EUROPE'S OLDEST MARIAN SHRINE Sanctuary of Oropa
In the Oropa area, the cult of the Black Madonna is incredibly felt, tradition has it that the statue of the Virgin, sculpted by Saint Luke, was brought to the town by Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli in the 4th century AD after finding it in Jerusalem. There have been testimonies of a church in the area since 1200, and since then, the Sanctuary has expanded to accommodate more and more faithful, reaching its current conformation where the original body of the Basilica is interspersed with spaces to accommodate pilgrims and some institutions that surround the religious but also urbanistic project of the place, where faith joins the creation of educational and cultural spaces, such as the WWF Oasis, the Botanical Garden, the Meteoroseismic Observatory, and the Treasure Museum.
Edilfar Rent has a premium fleet of guaranteed models with which you can make your most beautiful, longest, or deepest journeys. It doesn't matter where but how. So, choose only the best for your experiences and come visit us in Rome, Milan, and Modena. We are waiting for you!
