Photo 1 - Monte Sant’Angelo
One of the most incredible places in the Gargano is underground. It is a mystical place in which we happened by pure chance the first time we went to the Gargano for orchids. Monte Sant’Angelo dominates the Gulf of Manfredonia. The town welcomes you with its characteristic white houses which, honestly, were the reason why we had decided to visit it, after having had an adequate photographic feast of orchids in the surrounding area.
Photo 2 - Monte Sant’Angelo castle
Parked the car near the Castle of Monte Sant’Angelo, whose initial construction dates back to the 19th century, we realize that the flow of tourists, not many, was directed towards a Sanctuary, that of San Michele Arcangelo.
Photo 3 - The bell tower of the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo
Being curious by nature, we set out too and we find ourselves in a small square with an entrance and a beautiful octagonal bell tower.
Photo 4 - The entrance to the church of San Michele Arcangelo, Unesco Heritage
We understand the reason for tourism, even if not excessive, the Sanctuary is included in the list of Unesco World Heritage. From the entrance it appears to be no more than a simple chapel. We enter and we find ourselves in front of a large staircase that descends with several ramps and the entrance to the sanctuary leaves us breathless. A fantastic cave inside which has a church. They were celebrating a Mass in a very strange language, Our faith is poor but, we listened to the whole ceremony which was attended by only 4 people plus the priest. We got together united in prayer, even though we didn’t understand anything. In the end, we asked the sisters what language it was. It was Lebanese, it certainly did not have the charm of Aramaic but it seemed to us a language much closer to Jesus and this is probably the reason for its magnetic nature. I only have one photo, of poor quality, sorry, it must have been the suggestion that was so great that we forgot to take photos. But, if you go to visit it, I will not take away the amazement that can be obtained from not knowing anything as it happened to us.
Photo 5 - The altar of San Michele Arcangelo church.
The history of this Sanctuary begins in 490 following the first apparition of St. Michael and has since become a place of worship. He too is part of the imaginary straight line that links Mont Saint Michel, to the Sacra di San Michele in Piedmont, and the Holy Sepulcher to Jerusalem. We also visited the basement, where the crypts, the first places of worship of the early Christian centuries, and the museum were found. Even the National Geographic has included the cave in eighth place on the list of the 10 most beautiful caves in the world dedicated to worship. One consideration: when we return to the Gargano we always pass through here, apart from the time by bike, too much uphill. The reason is in seeking that need for the essentiality of prayer, without the sumptuous trappings that, on the contrary, are encountered in Monte Rotondo, so much so as not to create in us the need, much less the will to return. However, Monte Sant’Angelo is a town truly full of beauties and churches. But it has a common feature with Matera and its rock churches.
Photo 6 - Santa Maria di Pulsano Abbey Photo 7 - Rock church in Santa Maria di Pulsano canyon
Photo 8 - The view from Santa Maria di Pulsano on Manfredonia gulf.
Here too, and more precisely in Santa Maria di Pulsano, an Abbey about 10 km from the town but, again on the plateau, in a canyon that descends to the sea, there are, in addition to the Abbey itself, some rock churches that they was inhabited by hermits.
After years of neglect and oblivion, so much so that in 1966 the icon of the Madonna di Pulsano of the XII / XIII century was stolen and never found again. Also thanks to being named place of the heart of 2010, the recovery work has begun and we have seen the results.
Photo 9 - A stairway to heaven, the acrobatic route to the rock churches
Through ladder and ropes, we visited these hermitages which, inside them, presented paintings like in Matera.
Photo 10 - A hermitage
Photo 11 - Sacred paintings inside a hermitage in the Santa Maria di Pulsano canyon.
