Shrine of Our Lady of Sinners in Camporeale

Il Shrine of Our Lady of Sinners in Camporeale it is a place of considerable artistic and religious significance, very important for citizens and tourists. Its history is truly waiting to be discovered and is characterized by some particular passages, with a sort of birth in several stages. It stands on a hill above the relevant town and guarantees various aspects full of charm.

Here's what you need to know about the ecclesiastical building of the Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale.

Origins and history of the Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale

The Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale was conceived starting from 1855, based on a legend passed down over the decades. On that occasion, the brothers Antonino and Vincenzo Donzè and their friend Pietro Lungaro happened to be in an area halfway between the towns of Bisacquino and Chiusa Sclafani. They realized the presence of a black slab weighing more than 100 kilos and 70 centimeters high. On board it, you could see the Virgin Mary carrying a mantle full of people of multiple ethnicities and the writing Refugium Peccatorum, accompanied by the year 1622.

Furthermore, it is said that the farmers in front started arguing with the three over possession of the slab. In the end, it was the trio of lucky discoverers who kept the relic, placing it on a shrine located on the edge of the Camporeale hill. A first chapel of considerable size was built in 1905, but over the years the temple underwent various vicissitudes before the creation of the actual sanctuary, in 1920. After various earthquakes, in 1994 the Sanctuary was renovated with the creation of a new steps.

Architecture and works of art inside the Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale

The Sanctuary of Sinners is very small in size, but in turn hides a notable cultural sense. There are no complicated decorations inside, with a terracotta floor, wooden ceiling and white walls, with the various stations of the Easter Via Crucis on board. A statue of the Madonna mentioning the Refuge of Sinners is also clearly visible, together with a small chapel containing a sculpture dedicated to Saint Teresa. Finally, starting from 2000 and following the Jubilee, local citizens and those who emigrated to America had a new bronze statue built for the Madonna dei Peccatori, created by Biagio Governali from Corleone.

What to do near the Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale

A pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Peccatori is certainly a valid idea for discovering the beauties of an iconic town.

Those who want to complete their religious tour should not miss a walk at the Church of Sant'Antonio da Padova, with a neoclassical style and dating back to the nineteenth century. Among civil architecture, the Civil Palace includes the Camporeal Museum, Municipal Library a picture gallery el 'Baglio wine shop. Furthermore, you can immerse yourself in the itineraries of Alto Belice and live a breathtaking experience in the name of uncontaminated nature.

How to reach Camporeale

To go to the Sanctuary of Sinners in Camporeale by car, just take the A29 motorway and exit at the Gallitello or Balestrate junctions, 13 and 16 kilometers respectively from the city centre.

By train, the Piraineto and Punta Raisi stations are about 30 kilometers from the town.