Santuario di Tindari
The Black Madonna, an ancient city and the Marinello lagoons
Distance from the villa: 72 km · 68 min by car
The basilica with the Black Madonna stands on a cliff directly above the sea, in Tindari near the town of Patti. The statue of the Madonna and Child is carved from cedar and of Byzantine origin; today's building dates from 1957 and encloses the old shrine. Pope Francis raised the church to the rank of minor basilica on 8 September 2018. The main pilgrimage day falls on 7 September, when the whole area fills with people.
But it isn't just a church, and that's exactly why it's worth a visit even for those with no interest in pilgrimage sites. On the same headland lies the archaeological site of ancient Tyndaris, a Greek colony founded in 396 BC. A grid layout of streets survives, along with a stretch of walls, a Roman quarter with mosaics, and a Greek theatre seating around three thousand spectators, still used today for a summer festival.
Below the cliff spreads the Laghetti di Marinello nature reserve, shallow sandy lagoons separated from the sea by a sandbar that changes shape after every big storm. The finest view of them is from above, at the basilica. Anyone who climbs down to them and adds lunch in Patti or Oliveri can easily turn half a day into a full one.
Practical information
- Drive from the villa
- 72 km, about 68 minutes along the A20 motorway heading east towards Patti.
- Parking & shuttle
- You can't drive all the way up to the sanctuary. You park about a kilometre below, and a shuttle, the navetta, takes you up, running every 10 to 15 minutes. Parking costs around €1 per hour or €3 for the whole day; the shuttle costs around €1 per person.
- Basilica opening hours
- Weekdays 6:45 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm; Sundays and public holidays 6:45 am to 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm. At the height of summer the afternoon closing shifts to as late as 8:00 pm. Entry to the basilica is free.
- What to watch out for
- This is a working sanctuary, not a museum. It isn't open to sightseeing during Mass; silence and modest dress with shoulders and knees covered are expected, which in summer means bringing a scarf or a T-shirt to put on over swimwear. The ancient city with the theatre has its own ticket and its own opening hours, and is usually closed on Mondays. You can check by phone on 0941 369003.