Discover the mysterious Christian history in Bolsena region
Discover the mysterious Christian history in Bolsena region that can be traced back in Roman times. Emperor Diocletian martyrized the Christian believers in the beginning of IV century.
Santa Cristina is the Patron Saint of Bolsena
Discover the mysterious Christian history in Bolsena region where the Romans persecuted and martyrized Santa Cristina on 24th of July of the IV century. She was contemporary with other famous martyrs like: Agnese, Vittoria, Lucia, Sebastiano and Giorgio. Santa Cristina is the Patron Saint of the town of Bolsena. Every year the people of Bolsena celebrate their Patron Saint on July 24th.
Santa Cristina’s remains are buried in the Basilica di Santa Cristina di Bolsena. The Basilica represents the landmark of Bolsena town and of the region.
Eucharist Miracle
Discover the mysterious Christian history in Bolsena region where the Eucharist Miracle took place in 1263. The Basilica di Santa Cristina is famous for preserving the stones stained by the blood of the Eucharist Miracle.
The legend says that a Bohemian priest in pilgrimage to Rome had doubts about the mystery of transubstantiation of the wine and bread in the blood and body of Christ.
He prayed to God to give him a sign to strengthen his believe in the transubstantiation. God listened to his prayers and in the time of the consecration, all of a sudden, blood spilled from the host and stained the corporal and the marble floor.
Basilica di Santa Cristina
In the chapel of the Basilica di Santa Cristina in Bolsena you can find the three miracle stones of the Eucharistic Miracle. A golden metal reliquary with blue polychrome enamels on the altar keeps the forth stone. The city of Porchiano got another stone for its devotion to Santa Cristina.
The Altar of the Miracle is in the Chapel of Christ’s Body in the Basilica di Santa Cristina. Here is the entrance to the ancient church of the Martyrs of Bolsena and the catacomb complex where you can visit the Martyrs tombs. Discover the mysterious Christian history in Bolsena by visiting the Martyrs tombs!
Cathedral of Orvieto
In the Cathedral of Orvieto you can see the corporal inside the beautiful marble tabernacle created by Orcagna.
The building of the Cathedral of Orvieto began in 1290 on the foundations of an Etruscan temple, the older Cathedral of Santa Maria and the small church of San Costanzo. The Church commissioned the building of the cathedral to shelter the fragments of the consecrated host and the linen altar cloth stained with blood during the Miracle of Bolsena of 1263. Pope Nicholas IV blessed the foundation stone of the new cathedral. On August 11th, 1264 Pope Urban IV had instituted the solemn church feast of Corpus Christi.
The design and style of the Cathedral is Romanesque style in basilica form but became Gothic in time. The façade looks like an immense precious reliquary. On the façade of the Cathedral there are Renaissance modules such as the twelve small aedicules over the rose window.
Inside the Cathedral you can admire the famous frescoes by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli. You can also admire the gilded silver and enamel reliquary made for the altar cloth of the Miracle of Bolsena.
Orvieto landmark
The Cathedral of Orvieto that rises up on the rocks is the landmark of the town of Orvieto and of the region. The Cathedral embellishes Orvieto with its grace and beauty and is the main attraction of the region. You can see the Cathedral from the surrounding hills and from the highway. In the night, the Cathedral of Orvieto surrounded by light is a beautiful apparition on the rocky plateau that hosts the town of Orvieto.
