Sant'Angelo a Scala

The Sanctuary of San Silvestro Papa is a place of worship in the mountainous part of the municipality of Sant'Angelo a Scala (Avellino), at Monte San Silvestro. Perched on a rocky spur at 900 metres, it can be reached by two paths. The first, which coincides with a stretch of the Cammino di Guglielmo and is also known as the 'Sentiero della Devozione' (Path of Devotion), starts near Summonte (Avellino) and ends at the Sanctuary, passing through a majestic chestnut wood. The second sets out from the village and reaches the sanctuary in around three hours.

At the top, a limestone arch leads into the square in front of the sanctuary.

The church has a white stone façade flanked by a bell tower, and an elegant, finely carved stone doorway. Inside hangs a bronze bell, rung by everyone who manages to climb the path and reach the Sanctuary. Beside the small church, inside a grotto, rises a spring that has earned this place its reputation for the miraculous: according to popular tradition, its waters have healing and miraculous powers. Even today, a great many of the faithful come to the spring to bathe in the miraculous water, leaving prayers for grace and personal belongings as tokens of devotion. The grotto is covered with prayers and petitions, and for centuries it has fed the legend that its healing waters cured Constantine of leprosy through the intercession of Pope Sylvester. Known as a small and intimate place of faith and a site of miracles, the Sanctuary of San Silvestro Papa welcomes large numbers of pilgrims every year on Easter Monday and on the feast of the patron saint, 31 December. (Taken and adapted from 'Sistema Irpinia'.)