The Minor Basilica of Addolorata in Castelpetroso is one of the most visited sites in Molise and holds great significance for its inhabitants, both believers and non-believers alike. The sanctuary is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, the patron saint of the region, and stands on a site made famous by the apparitions that began on 22 March 1888, when the Virgin Mary appeared to two young shepherdesses. This event, followed by further apparitions, was soon recognised by the Church.
Work on the construction of the Basilica began on 28 September 1890, with the laying of the foundation stone, and was completed in 1975. The building, in the Neo-Gothic style, is centred around seven chapels, each dedicated to one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The central dome, 54 metres high, dominates the entire complex. The Sanctuary is linked to the site of the apparitions via the Via Matris, 750 metres long, which symbolically retraces the Sorrows of Mary.
Inside the Basilica, the view is breathtaking. The central dome bathes the seven chapels and the mosaics depicting the most venerated saints in Molise in light. High above are the Evangelists and the Prophets, whilst at the centre stands the high altar with the throne of Our Lady of Sorrows and a sculpture expressing the Mother’s grief. A relic of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows – one of his teeth – has been kept in the seventh chapel since 1994. The organ, with its 1,778 pipes, is situated in the choir loft, whilst the neo-Gothic stained-glass windows and rose windows depict significant moments in the life of the Virgin Mary.
The small Chapel of Mary Magdalene, situated at an altitude of 810 metres, is another place of interest, with its exposed stone walls. The Basilica and the site of the apparitions are linked by a road, the Via Matris, approximately 800 metres long, featuring works commemorating the Sorrows of Mary.
The apparitions, witnessed by the visionaries Serafina and Bibiana, led to official recognition by the Church, and on 6 December 1973, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Our Lady of Sorrows the patron saint of Molise.