Top 7 Caves サンザでの

A brief explanation of the patronage of 'MARY OF THE SNOW', which visitors don't encounter very often: This takes us far back in church history to the fourth/fifth century, and geographically to Rome. On August 5, 363, the so-called "miracle of the snow" occurred at the site where the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore now stands. That is to say, on that day, in the middle of summer, snow lay there in the morning because the Virgin Mary wished to have a church dedicated to her built on that spot. She conveyed this wish in a vision to a wealthy couple – who subsequently initiated and financed the construction – and to the Bishop of Rome, who at that time was Pope Liberius. The Roman church holds the rank of a patriarchal basilica (papal basilica) and is the origin of all churches and chapels with this patronage. In the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, August 5th, the feast day of the church's consecration (in the year 432 by Pope Sixtus III), is an optional memorial. Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome was the focus of international attention last year because Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday 2025, had chosen this church as his final resting place.

Impressive gorge, it's a shame that for safety reasons you can't go further, although there is a closed gate with a path that leads into the dark canyon.

Worth the entrance fee

Here is the info on the Vallivona Affondator: https://www.archeotrekking.net/it/scheda_singola/188-l-affondamento-di-vallivona.html

Here is the info: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UlQWiWK45afivZjuXxtYBWe77kqg_A5U/view?usp=drive_link

Place to visit absolutely, very suggestive place.

Stream that disappears into the mountain

The Grotta del Bussento is the place where the high-altitude waters that cross the sinker of Villanova resurface.