Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio

The Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio stands on a gentle hill at the southeastern edge of L'Aquila's historic centre, its striped pink-and-white stone façade one of the most striking examples of Abruzzese Romanesque architecture. The church was founded in 1287 by Pietro da Morrone — who would become Pope Celestine V — on the site where he claimed to have received a vision of the Virgin Mary. The three rose windows above the three doorways are particularly fine.

The interior sustained serious damage in the 2009 earthquake, and the roof partially collapsed, but major restoration has been completed and the church is largely accessible again. The tomb of Celestine V, in a silver casket behind the high altar, survived intact. The church is also significant for the ceremony of the Perdona, or Perdonanza Celestiniana — now a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event — held every August 28-29 when the Porta Santa opens for the faithful.

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Santa Maria di Collemaggio is the only place outside the Vatican where a pope is buried. Celestine V, who famously resigned the papacy in 1294 after only five months — inspiring Dante to place him in Hell for 'the great refusal' — died in captivity the following year. His body was brought here and his tomb remains in the church. Every August 28-29, on the anniversary of his coronation, the Porta Santa (Holy Door) opens for the Perdona, a ritual forgiveness procession that predates the Vatican's own Jubilee by 27 years.