Santuario Madonna della Civita, Itri

The shrine of Our Lady of the Civita is located in the territory of the Archdiocese of Gaeta, on the summit of Mount Fusco in the Aurunci mountain range.

The cult associated with the Holy Virgin seems to date back to an image found by a shepherd boy on a holm oak tree in the 8th century. Currently, the shrine, at whose entrance is the inscription Terribilis est locus iste, is visited by nearly half a million pilgrims a year, of whom no less than 10 percent still climb on foot. Many pilgrims arrive on foot from different countries: from Cellole which is 42 km from the shrine, from Pontecorvo which is 34 km away. The best-known pilgrimage is the one that leaves from the town of Itri, every morning of seven Saturdays before the celebration of the Madonna della Civita, which commemorates one of the most famous graces: that of July 21, 1527, when the Virgin from the Civita freed all the inhabitants of the surrounding towns from the plague.

Numerous votive offerings are kept inside the shrine.

The view from the sanctuary forecourt is most remarkable: the most important peaks of the western sector of the Aurunci are recognizable: Mt. Trina, Mt. Faggeto, Mt. le Pezze, Mt. Le Vele, Mt. Ruazzo, Mt. Orso, Le Rave Fosche, Mt. Cefalo, Mt. Carbonaro and in the distance Mt. Orlando and Mt. Circeo.

Since 1985 the shrine has been entrusted to the Passionist fathers.