Grotta di San Michele

Useful Information

Location:	Via Vittorio Emanuele, 82-86, 86096 Sant'Angelo In Grotte IS. Santa Maria del Molise, Province of Isernia. (41.562614, 14.371756)
Open:	All year Mon-Sat 9:30-13, 16-19, Sun, Ho 12-13:30, 16-19. This is a catholic church, so it is open daily. Please respect worshipers and services, behave properly. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave. Cave Church St. Michael Caves
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Grotta di San Michele Arcangelo, Via Vittorio Emanuele, 82-86, 86096 Sant'Angelo In Grotte IS, Tel: +39-0
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

800	village Sant'Angelo In Grotte founded.
1100	first written mention.
1890	Grotto of San Michele Arcangelo rebuilt and enlarged.

Description

The Grotta di San Michele is a cave church located in the town Sant'Angelo in Grotte, which belongs to Santa Maria del Molise. According to local legend, the cave was the place archangel Michael liked most, but the lord told him to appear at Monte Sant'Angelo on the Gargano in Puglia. So he left his cave here to appear there.

According to this legend the cave was known as a place of an apparition of St. Michael since the 5th century. At this time the former Roman empire was ruled by Langobards, who were finally christianized. The believe in Arcangel Michael and his various apparitions was important for this process. Symbols of St. Michael soon became part of flags, like the portrait of St. Michael on the flag of Lombardia. However, the first accounts on a local St. Michael cult and the creation of a church are from the 12th century. At first the place was called S. Angelo di Badianosa, later St. Angelo in Criptulis.

The church is entered through thick bronze doors with bas-reliefs. It is built into a cave with a front wall closing the cave to the weather. The cave has some speleothems and a small spring which is thought to be holy. There is a statue of San Michele with a metal breastplate and sword. On his shield is written Quis Ut Deus (who is like God?), which means that only God is strong.