Shrine of the Madonna of Costantinopoli
Place of worship
Santuario Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, Papasidero - Regione Calabria
The Shrine of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli in Papasidero, in the province of Cosenza, is one of the places dedicated to Our Lady of Constantinople in Calabria. An ancient devotion, which draws on the arrival of the Byzantine Virgin in medieval times.
The Shrine of Papasidero is set in a place of great naturalistic as well as spiritual beauty. It dates back to the 17th century and stands on a rocky wall on the bank of the Lao river, a waterway much loved by rafting and canoeing enthusiasts.
The Shrine of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli is carved directly into the rock, accessible via a stepped path and bridge. The present building stands on the remains of the former medieval church and contains a fresco of the Madonna of Constantinople in the company of the Archangel Michael. Noteworthy is the ancient organ in the nave.
Those who visit the Shrine of the Madonna of Constantinople in Papasidero can take some time to discover the natural and archaeological surroundings of the place, which is famous for the Romito Cave, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe (9010-9200 B.C.), inside which the graffito depicting the Bos Primigenius is preserved.
