The church of San Pietro della Ienca, also known as the Sanctuary of Pope John Paul II is located in a village of the same name, near Assergi and included in the municipality of the city of L’Aquila.
The Shrine of Pope John Paul II is well known for having been a place of prayer for Karol Wojtyla (during his frequent excursions in Abruzzo, read here) and therefore an important place for religious tourism from the rest of Abruzzo and Italy. The church houses a relic of the Polish pope and is a pilgrimage destination.
The sanctuary can be reached from the Vasto provincial road 86, about 5 km from Assergi, 11 km from Paganica and 20 km from L’Aquila. During the winter season the road is frequently closed to traffic (due to heavy snowfall) and the sanctuary can only be reached on foot.
Photo by Francesca Piersanti.
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