Sanctuary of the Madonna of Pollino

About a dozen kilometres from San Severino, it can be reached by arriving at the hamlet of Mezzana Frido and then continuing on foot for 2.5 km or by car along a steep, winding asphalt road following the signs for the sanctuary until reaching a cliff on the northern slope of the Pollino massif. Here perched like an eagle's nest is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pollino, at an altitude of 1527 metres, in a panoramic position over the entire Frido valley, not far from the source of the river. The Sanctuary is a favourite pilgrimage destination for Lucanians and Calabrians. And like most sanctuaries, it is linked to a legendary story; this one tells of a shepherd boy to whom the Madonna appeared on the site where the sanctuary stands today, while he was leading his flocks up the Pollino. The date of origin could date back to the early 1700s, but there are no documents to prove this. Today the complex includes the church and the Pilgrim's House. And every year on the first Sunday in June, the venerated statue of the Madonna del Pollino is carried in procession from the Mother Church of San Severino Lucano to the sanctuary, where it remains until September. Beyond its religious significance, with its position on the rocky outcrop, the place offers an incredible view of the Frido valley below and the surrounding peaks.