Santuario della Madonna del Tufo

At the edge of Rocca di Papa, the Sanctuary of Madonna del Tufo is built around a large block of volcanic tuff. According to local tradition, the boulder broke from the mountain and halted before a traveller who invoked the Madonna; a chapel and pilgrimage grew around the stone.

Why it matters

The sanctuary's devotional history is closely tied to the volcanic landscape of Monte Cavo. A chapel built around the boulder in the early sixteenth century developed into a church and place of pilgrimage. The present church was rebuilt in the early twentieth century and remains a centre of local devotion.

What to notice

The tuff boulder is integrated into the sanctuary and bears a sculpted image of the Madonna. The church's wooden coffered ceiling is a notable feature of the interior. The present building, designed by priest and architect Don Salvatore Spadaio, was built in 1931–32.

Context and history

The tradition places the event on the wooded slope known as Pentima Calvello. A small shrine was built around the stone, with a painted Madonna and Child. In 1592, under Bishop Tolomeo Gallo, the Chapel of the Tufo was united with Rocca di Papa's parish church. An enlargement in 1792 added a new facade. The sanctuary passed to the Trinitarian Order in the nineteenth century; following a rebuilding campaign, it reopened for worship in 1931.