The Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Seta

Located on the summit of Monte Siri, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Seta was built around the 16th century (the date 1526 is engraved on the portal) on the site of a previous place of worship, as evidenced by the fresco depicting St. Leo the Great, found in a niche next to the altar.

The building houses a valuable cycle of frescoes painted in 1559 by the Lucanian painter Giovanni Todisco and dedicated to the Stories of the Life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, currently consisting of eighteen episodes. Among the most important works are the wooden altarpiece with the Madonna del Rosario e i quindici Misteri (Our Lady of the Rosary and the Fifteen Mysteries), created in the 17th century and attributed to Michele Manchelli, and two wooden statues of the Virgin: the oldest, from the mid-15th century, depicts the Madonna della Seta (Our Lady of Silk) seated on a throne, while the second, from the mid-19th century, depicts the Vergine del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary) in a rich red silk robe.

The sanctuary, also known as Madonna del Rosario or Beata Vergine del Monte Siri, is the destination of annual pilgrimages, along steep roads that offer spectacular views of the valley.

A memorable episode linked to the sanctuary dates back to 1807, during a raid by brigands: while the church was set on fire, the statue of the Virgin was taken to the square and, miraculously, it began to snow, thus saving the village.