Basilica of Sant’Egidio Abate

What to see

• The alabaster statue of Sant’Egidio, dating from 1570, carried on shoulders in procession.
• The nineteenth-century holy water stoups in local marble and the oil paintings on either side of the apse, showing Sant’Egidio in glory and the polyptych Life of Sant’Egidio, works by local artists.
• According to popular belief, on some Fridays in March the “miracle of the manna” (a miraculous substance said to appear) can be witnessed in the saint’s chapel.

Festivals

The patron saint is celebrated on 30 and 31 August and 1 September, with a procession and the Palio Rionale (a contest between the neighbourhoods of the town, with traditional games such as the sack race).

How to get there

It is in the historic centre, within walking distance; the town is in the Pollino National Park and can be reached by car from the A2 motorway (Lauria exits).

Useful information

• Opening times depend on the parish, so it is best to ask in the town.
• Nearby are the church of San Nicola (12th century) and the historic centre.