The Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella at Materdomini

The Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella is located in Materdomini, a small village in the province of Avellino. San Gerardo Maiella (Saint Gerard Majella) is the patron saint of mothers and children, and this place of worship is very popular among the faithful.

In particular, the Sala dei Fiocchi (Room of the Ribbons) attracts many visitors: it is a room whose walls and ceiling are entirely covered with ribbons, donated by couples as a sign of gratitude for the graces received through the Saint's intercession. The Sanctuary is a truly evocative place that is certainly worth a visit!

The Sanctuary of San Gerardo Maiella stands in Materdomini di Caposele, in Irpinia, in the province of Avellino. San Gerardo, the patron saint of expectant mothers and children, is deeply venerated in this area. Inside the Sanctuary, the Sala dei Fiocchi (Room of the Ribbons) is particularly fascinating: it is a room entirely decorated with thousands of colourful ribbons that couples have offered to the Saint as a token of gratitude for his help.

The history of the Sanctuary dates back to the 1200s, and there are several legends about its origins. One tells that it was discovered by some shepherds in a wood, while another recounts that the Madonna appeared to some farmers, asking them to build a chapel right there. The Sanctuary was restored after the 1980 earthquake and was inaugurated in 2000. The body of San Gerardo is kept here, at the foot of the presbytery.

Inside the convent, there is a reconstructed room where San Gerardo lived during his time at Materdomini. The room, furnished with antique furniture and 18th-century flooring, is very evocative, and above the door lintel one can read the inscription "Qui si fa la volontà di Dio come vuole e per quanto vuole Dio" (Here the will of God is done as He wishes and for as long as He wishes), which San Gerardo had written during his final illness. The convent's stained-glass windows depict the most important moments of the Saint's life.