Santuario Maria Ss. della Consolazione - Paternò

The Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation is located on the historic hill of Paternò, where, according to tradition, the Virgin appeared on the last Saturday of May of 1580 to a girl who was tending the goats and asked that a chapel was erected and promised to protect the inhabitants and their campaigns.

On the site of the Sanctuary is the testimony of a place of worship in a ruin oldest recovered today. On the site initially arose a chapel under the title of "Mary the Merciful" that the year 1616 was changed to that which met with so much favor in the piety of the faithful, of. "Mary of Consolation". IL May 15, 1935, the archbishop of Catania, Mons. Carmelo Patane, by decree of Archbishop, raised the Temple at the diocesan Sanctuary, in the territory of the Parish of St. Mary of the High.

The sanctuary is located in a charming place where you can enjoy a wonderful panorama that stretches from Etna villages to the valley of Simeto. Place of peace and harmony which facilitates meditation and prayer, it is suitable for spiritual retreats for children and adults and the spacious halls available allow you to perform various activities.

Next to the shrine, built by the people of God and the benefactor Michelangelo Virgillito, there are two large buildings, born to the orphans of the war, and today places of education and culture: the vocational school Don Orione (endofap-sicilia.it) and nursery and primary school, run by the Dominican Sisters of St. Sixtus.