Shrine of San Francesco di Paola

The Shrine of St Francis of Paola stands in the hilly part of the town of Paola, the birthplace of St Francis in the province of Cosenza.

San Francesco di Paola is the patron saint of Calabria, the object of a deep devotion that makes the Paola Shrine one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations, especially on 2 April, when the feast day takes place.

The Shrine of St Francis of Paola overlooks a large panoramic square. The main entrance is on the right and leads to the modern basilica, inaugurated on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2000, and to the ‘’Cucchiarella Spring‘’, a miraculous spring from which pilgrims draw. 

Continuing on, one reaches the Devil's Bridge and the small hermitage where the saint spent his youthful years. The ancient basilica, in Romanesque style, dates back to the 16th century and consists of a single nave with a chapel housing the relics of St Francis of Paola (clothing and bone fragments).

Specially designed routes for those wishing to reach the Shrine of St Francis of Paola according to their needs pass through an official itinerary: the Way of St Francis of Paola, which follows in the footsteps of the Franciscan friar.

A mystical experience combining nature, art, culture and spirituality in the places of St Francis of Paola, along a 112 km route divided into: Young Man's Way, Hermit's Way and Monastery Way.