St. Michael Caves


In the late Roman/early Medieval time the young Christian religion struggled against pagan cults all over Europe. God sent his archangel St. Michael to Europe, especially southern Italy, to appear in front of people which were easy to influence. Preferably inside a cave. We are not sure which one was the cave fan, but we guess it was St. Michael.

The result of this strange behaviour is a huge amount of caves named after archangel St. Michael. And two islands too, by the way, both called St Michails Mountain. One is Mont St. Michel at the coast of Normandy in France and one is St. Michaels Mount in Cornwall. Both areas are composed of insoluble rock, so we guess there were no caves at hand.

The explanation, why St. Michael is related to caves, is actually a legend. Tradition wants the archangel winning on Lucifer, the devil, who was sent away from the heaven to be confined in the inside recesses of the earth.

There are so many caves dedicated to him, we thought we should make a page to list all of them. We were impressed that there were a few outside southern Italy too.

Cave Church Location Country
CaveSant'Angelo Balsorano, L'Aquila, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveGrotta San Michele Pescocostanzo, L'Aquila, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveSant'Angelo in Vetulis near Sulmona, L'Aquila, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveMonte Sant'Angelo Bominaco, L'Aquila, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveSan Michele San Vittorino, L'Aquila, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveSant'Angelo Le Ripe Abbruzzo Italy
CaveSan Michele Arcangelo Lama dei Peligni, Abbruzzo Italy
CaveGrotta Sant'Angelo Palombaro (Ch), Abbruzzo Italy
CaveEremo di San Michele di Montenero Campagna (SA), Campania Italy
CaveGrotta dell'Angelo Sant'Angelo a Fasanella, Campania Italy
CaveGrotta di San Michele Faicchio (BN), Campania Italy
CaveGrotta di S.Michele Arcangelo Olevano, north of Eboli, east of Salerno, Campania. Italy
CaveGrotta di San Michele Arcangelo Raviscanina (CE), Campania Italy
ShowcaveGrotta dell'Angelo Pertosa, Salerno, Campania. Italy
CaveMorgia Sant'Angelo Guardia Sanframondi, Campania. Italy
ShowcaveGrotta di Sant'Angelo Cassano Allo Ionio, Calabria Italy
CaveGrotta di San Michele Sant'Angelo in Grotte, Santa Maria del Molise, Province of Isernia, Molise Italy
CaveGrotta dell'Angelo Monte d'Elio, San Nicandro Garganico, Gargano, Puglia Italy
CaveGrotta di San Michele Minervino Murge, Puglia Italy
SubterraneaMonte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, Puglia Italy
CaveGrotta San Michele Cagnano Varano, Gargano, Puglia. Italy
CaveSan Michele delle Grotte Gravina in Puglia (BA), Puglia. Italy
CaveCripta Basiliana di San Michele Ceglie Messapica, Puglia Italy
CaveGrotta di San Michele Arcangelo Monte San Giovanni in Sabina, Lazio Italy
CavePesterna Crkva Sveti Arhangel Mihail Radozda, Struga region, western shore of Lake Ohrid. Macedonia
ShowcaveSt. Michael's Caves Gibraltar, Nature Reserve Upper Rock Great Britain
CaveMikaelshulen Near Skien, Telemark Norway