Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio

Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio

A symbol of the of town of L’Aquila, the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio is located just outside the town walls. It was built in 1288 on the spot in which Pietro da Morrone, founder of the now extinct Celestine congregation, dreamed that the Virgin Mary asked him to build a church in her name. When da Morrone, who lived as a hermit in a cavern in the Maiella mountain, was later elected Pope Celestine V, he chose to be crowned in L’Aquila ins…