The church of Our Lady of Carmen is located just outside the town of Palena, on the stretch of road called the "Tajate". The name of the road was not choosen at random, until, in order to widen the old mule track which linked Palena with Lama dei Peligni, the mightly rock which seperated the two villages had to be "cut" engraving it with a road, amongst the most scenic in the province. The meandering path of the road overlooking the valley of the Aventine allows you to cast a glance towards the Adriatic Sea.
The small church, which stands on the edge of the town of Palena in the direction of Lama dei Peligni, is a tangible sign of the devotion and the mastery that took part in the construction of the road. The workers coming mainly from the south of Italy, Naples and Sicily, wanted to build this little church as a thank you for the positive outcome and dedicated it to Our Lady of Carmen as they were particularly devoted her.
On the 15th October, 1832 Ferdinand II of Bourbon personally went to Palena to see the successful conclusion of the construction of the road.
The small chapel is located in a rocky hollow, which probably replaced an existing newsstand. At the entrance a porch allows access to a square hall, on the north side the cave it opens to where the alter is located. On the east side is a depiction of the Madonna del Carmine made of ceramic tiles by artists from a local school.
On the 16th July of each year, the faithful of Palena and nearby Lettopalena come together to pray in this little church.
The church of Our Lady of Carmen is located just outside the town of Palena, on the stretch of road called the "Tajate". The name of the road was not choosen at random, until, in order to widen the old mule track which linked Palena with Lama dei Peligni, the mightly rock which seperated the two villages had to be "cut" engraving it with a road, amongst the most scenic in the province. The meandering path of the road overlooking the valley of the Aventine allows you to cast a glance towards the Adriatic Sea.
The small church, which stands on the edge of the town of Palena in the direction of Lama dei Peligni, is a tangible sign of the devotion and the mastery that took part in the construction of the road. The workers coming mainly from the south of Italy, Naples and Sicily, wanted to build this little church as a thank you for the positive outcome and dedicated it to Our Lady of Carmen as they were particularly devoted her.
On the 15th October, 1832 Ferdinand II of Bourbon personally went to Palena to see the successful conclusion of the construction of the road.
The small chapel is located in a rocky hollow, which probably replaced an existing newsstand. At the entrance a porch allows access to a square hall, on the north side the cave it opens to where the alter is located. On the east side is a depiction of the Madonna del Carmine made of ceramic tiles by artists from a local school.
On the 16th July of each year, the faithful of Palena and nearby Lettopalena come together to pray in this little church.
