Basilica of Santa Cristina

The Basilica of Santa Cristina occupies the site where, according to tradition, the early Christian martyr Cristina was tortured and thrown into the lake in the third century. The church was built and rebuilt over the centuries; the current facade dates from the early sixteenth century. Beneath the main church lie a series of catacombs and an ancient oratory with early Christian frescoes.

The chapel of the Miracle, within the basilica complex, marks the site of the 1263 Eucharistic miracle that prompted Pope Urban IV to institute Corpus Domini. The stone on which the miracle is said to have occurred is displayed here. The basilica is freely open and well worth the short walk from the main lakefront.

things to do sight
A story
The Miracle of Bolsena occurred in 1263 when a Bohemian priest, troubled by doubts about transubstantiation, was celebrating Mass in the basilica. Blood reportedly began seeping from the consecrated host onto the corporale — the linen cloth beneath it. Pope Urban IV, then at nearby Orvieto, was informed of the event and instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi the following year. The blood-stained corporale is still kept at Orvieto Cathedral.