Sanctuary of the Scala Santa

The Sanctuary of the Scala Santa adjacent to the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, restored in the nineteenth century, is one of the most interesting places of worship in Abruzzo.

Established on 21 January 1772 with the bull of Pope Clement XIV, thanks to the interest of the lawyer Giampalma Palma. The father of the historian Nicola, in 1771 Superior of the Confraternity of SS. Stigmata of St. Francis, he managed to convince Cardinal Andrea Corsini, protector of the Archconfraternity of the SS. Stigmata in Rome, to intercede with the pontiff this privilege for Campli. Granted by the pope who ordered it to be erected in the garden of the adjacent seat of the pious association.

Erected between 1772 and 1776 on an ancient cistern. The lawyer is remembered in a plaque walled up in the sacristy of St. Paul. The sanctuary consists of 28 wooden steps to climb kneeling (like the Roman one) for the remission of sins. In past centuries, as well as today, the Sanctuary has been visited by countless pilgrims and onlookers.

Along the walls there are six paintings depicting the "Passion of Christ", to allow the faithful to spiritually join the sufferings of the Savior. The "Flagellation" perhaps the work of the Marches Giammatteo Campanelli (1781-1858) of Monsampolo del Tronto (AP); the other paintings by Vincenzo Baldati from Teramo, completed in 1781. At the top of the staircase, protected by a grate, the Chapel of the "Sancta Sanctorum" which houses various relics in artistic Neapolitan reliquaries, a canvas with "Christ Pantocrator" and the processional statue dell'Addolorata.

At the beginning of the staircase leading to the exit (symbol of the faithful regenerated by divine Grace), two frescoes, "S. Elena ”and“ Pope Clement XIV ”. Unique in its kind, it offers the faithful numerous indulgences.

Opening hours: 08:30 to 18:00 every day.