Santuario della Madonna della Guardia, San Giovanni Incarico

The shrine of Our Lady of the Guard, known simply as the shrine of Our Lady of the Guard, is a small church located on Mount San Maurizio in San Giovanni Incarico.

The complex was restored and enlarged in 1824 by the then prefect of Naples, as recalled by a plaque outside the church itself. In fact, the town at that time was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. On the site once stood an ancient small church dedicated to St. Maurice whose first documented records date back to 1043; later the religious building was abandoned and a lookout post was established there, especially to ward off the territory from Saracen raids. It was most likely at this time that a statue of Our Lady was brought to the little church, hence the title "of the Guard" so that she would protect the territory. Severely damaged during World War II, the shrine was restored in 1948.

The shrine has a Latin cross plan. The high altar is surmounted by the niche that habitually holds the statue of the Virgin, characterized, in keeping with Spanish tradition, by clothes of cloth and royal hair, as well as jewelry, which devotees have given her over time. The right chapel also contains a small statue of Our Lady of Loreto. Behind the shrine is what was once the janitor's house, now used as the headquarters of the Pious Congregation of Our Lady of the Guard.

In the year 2015, an Extraordinary Jubilee was celebrated at the shrine to mark the "millennial" of its founding. In fact, according to some research, there are records of a place of worship on the mountain overlooking San Giovanni Incarico as early as shortly after the year 1000. In addition, the year 2015 was also chosen in memory of the solemn coronation of the statue of Our Lady that took place in 1915. The solemn celebration of the opening of the Holy Door, presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Sora-Cassino-Aquino-Pontecorvo, His Excellency Bishop Gerardo Antonazzo, was attended by thousands of people, also from neighboring countries and beyond. Also in September, for the concluding ceremony of the Extraordinary Jubilee, the Shrine received a visit from Card. Angelo Bagnasco, president of the C.E.I. as well as archbishop of Genoa. In fact, Genoa is home to one of the largest and most famous shrines dedicated to Mary Most Holy of the Guard, with which the San Giovanni Incarico shrine is twinned.

The shrine also enjoys the privilege of being attached to the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which is why it enjoys the same indulgences and privileges granted to the Lateran Basilica.