Drive to the far southeastern corner of Umbria to visit this charming mountainous town, a place of pilgrimage and worship.
Situated at 1,847 feet (563 metres) above sea level, Cascia is picturesque jumble of terracotta roofs stacked on a hill. Its streets fan out into the valley of the nearby Corno River in the province of Perugia.
The “comune" (municipality) of Cascia was founded during Roman times. The first Roman settlement named “Carsulae” was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1st century. Cascia was a papal town from the 15th century until 1860, when Italy was unified.
The main reason why thousands of people come to Cascia every year is for a pilgrimage to the Basilica di Santa Rita. Visit the shrine for this local saint, who become known to Catholics all over the world as the “Saint of the Impossible.” Her ability to pacify feuding families and care for plague victims, without getting ill herself, helped earn her this title.
Back in the town centre, enter the portal of the Gothic Church of St. Francis, dedicated to the famous saint of Assisi. Admire the rose window with its central Madonna and Child sculpture, a work by the Master of Como.
Another Gothic beauty is the Church of St. Augustine, which has frescoes of the Umbrian and Perugian schools of painting.
The Collegiate Church of St. Mary, one of the city's oldest buildings, is still standing despite the many earthquakes that tormented this city. Cascia’s Church of St. Anthony Abate is over 500 years old, but was modified in the Baroque era. Inside, view the ancient frescoes that depict the life of St. Anthony.
Cascia is about 13 miles (21 kilometres) from Norcia and 60 miles (97 kilometres) from Rome. You can take the train to Spoleto and then use the same ticket to hop on a bus to Cascia. Buses directly from Rome take about 3 hours.
Come here on the evening of May 21 when the annual Feast of St. Rita is in full swing. Watch thousands of pilgrims with candles form a peaceful procession. The next day, witness the historical parade with locals re-enacting the various roles St. Rita took on in her life. The festival ends with Blessing of the Roses, when all those gathered point a red rose towards heaven.
