The Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore is 12 km far from the Casale di Tormaggiore and it is an historical destination of pilgrimage for Romans and tourists, especially on summer Saturdays (they use to walk from Rome to the Sanctuary).
Two churches constitute the entirety of the Sanctuary: The oldest was built in 1745 and it has been renovated and adorned with holy objects from Saint Peter’s Basilica. The second one was built in 1999.
The Santuario del Divino Amore is known for being a place where miracles happen.
The First Miracle
Legend has it that in the spring of 1740, a pilgrim got lost in Rome countryside (near the Sanctuary) during his walk to Saint Peter’s Basilica, and then he was surrounded by rabid dogs while he was going up on a hill with farmhouses and a ruined castle, looking for help to find the right track.
The pilgrim suddenly saw a Holy image on the tower: The Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus with the Holy Spirit Dove above them, which represents the Divine Love (Divino Amore).
He got down on his knee while he was praying to the Virgin to save him from this danger and all of a sudden, the dogs ran away. All the sheperds around rushed over the pilgrim and they finally helped him to find the right track.
When all the city of Rome knew about this miracle, the Virgin’s icon of Castel di Leva became the pilgrimage destination we know today.
Practical Informations
Adress: Via del Santuario, 00134 Castel di Leva (RM), 12 km from Casale di Tormaggiore
Web-site www.santuariodivinoamore.it/index.php