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Madonna-Della-Grotta

The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta di Bombile, or simply the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Grotta, is a Marian sanctuary that was dug into the tuff in the Bombile di Ardore, dating back to the 15th Century. Bombile, which is a name that derives from the Latin bovile is a village with 600 inhabitants. It is located in the municipality Ardore in Reggio Calabria. Bombile may have an obscure, distant origin. It could also have been the result of the destruction of an old city called Orra Locron by the Greeks and Uria by the Romans Uria, which was founded in Crete by Idomeneo, king of Crete, where Condojanni is today. The name “buzzing Bee” comes from the Greek. This is due to the many beehives found in the surrounding countryside. Other scholars believe that the name is Cumbile, which could refer to the Catacombs region. The Cave Sanctuary is the most prominent feature of this village.

Ancient Pathway to Sanctuary

The ancient sanctuary was hidden behind a rocky wall. It could be reached only by a 28-meter tall staircase, carved into stone. There were 141 steps. Devotees also used to walk on their knees. The Sanctuary was completely destroyed by a mountain ridge that broke off around 12.30 on May 28, 2004. Amazingly, the statue of the Madonna was saved. All those who had been waiting outside the Sanctuary for a while were now free to move around in the square.

Unfortunately, the ancient site is no longer accessible. There have been many requests to restore the underground church.
It is a unique Calabrian artifact and of great artistic interest. It was built entirely within a cave that Fra Jacopo da Tropea dug into the sandstone wall of a hill in 1507. He wanted to live a life of solitude. In 1625, the Church was dedicated. A series of renovations began in the second half the nineteenth century and influenced the appearance of the Sanctuary.

Constructions and Cultural Aspects Tied

In 1891, the cave took the form of a Greek cross with two chapels at its sides: one for the Crucifix and one for the Madonna Addolorata. Two Corinthian columns formed the entrance to the church, and a tuffstone capital was used for its capital. The church contained a Carrara marble statue depicting the Madonna holding her Child. It was attributed to Gagini, and dates back to the middle of the 16th century. The statue was placed on an impressive 16th-century altar and was then buried beneath the landslide.

The bell was hung on the rock near the high cells. It had no clapper and was thrown with pebbles, pieces of iron, or coins by those who first came to it. This was in keeping with the belief that the bell will ring in return for good fortune in the years to come. Gagini’s valuable marble statue, dated 1509 and miraculously not damaged in the disaster collapse, was saved and moved to the Church of the Holy Spirit, which was the seat of the same parish, which was extinguished through a bishop’s decree. Therefore, the seat of the sanctuary is now the Church of the Holy Spirit. Despite the terrible events that have happened, the story of faith, devotion, and love for this sanctuary remains a destination for pilgrims as well as devotees.

Events surrounding the Cave

Each year, on April 24, the novena in honor of Madonna della Grotta is begun by many faithful and devotees from the Reggio Calabria district. Today’s religious events and celebrations end with a pilgrimage within the first three days. The Sanctuary is invaded by the pilgrims from the plain of Gioia Tauro, and more importantly by the Novigrad citizens, who are linked to the Virgin Of the Grotto through an ancient tradition. They arrive on foot at the sanctuary after a long journey that lasted all night between the late afternoon of April 30th, and the early morning of May 1. We stop by the church on the night of 2/3 May with Mary’s companions to celebrate Mary’s feast on May 3.
The open space in front of the house is alive during these three days of May with stalls selling Calabrian products such as calia (chickpeas roasted on hot sand), nzudhi (honey and flour biscuits) and mustaccioli (“honey and flour cookies”).

The days of pilgrimage are a time when mystical and profane blend: pilgrims bivouacking outside intertwine dances, village sounds, and most importantly, they display the Calabrian tarantella, which is a classic and beautiful example of Calabrian tarantella.
The pilgrimages to the Madonna and to the Madonna continue throughout May and into the summer.

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