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Roccaporena

Scoglio di Santa Rita
Roccaporena or Rocca Porrena is a tiny mountain village in Umbria. It sits at the foot of Mount Rucino and was isolated from most of the world until after the Second World War when a road was built connecting it to Cascia. It took ten minutes for us to reach this serene community from Cascia. 

There is a trail that leads up the mountaintop where it is believed that St. Rita spent time to pray and meditate. The chapel on the mountaintop is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie di Roccaporena.

Marital House of St. Rita
Saint Rita of Cascia was born in Roccaporena. She was a widowed woman with two sons. After her husband was assasinated around 1406, she worried that her sons might resort to violence against the family that murdered her husband. She prayed that they would not avenge his death. Her sons died not long after from natural  causes. Saint Rita joined the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in 1407 where she remained until her death in 1457. In 1442, as she was praying to participate in the suffering of Christ on the cross, a piece from the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ pierced her forehead which stigmata she had to endure for the rest of her life.

Marital House of St. Rita 
St. Rita’s marital house was converted into a chapel in the 17th century with the support of Cardinal Fausto Poli.

Image of St. Rita
This painting shows the moment St. Rita received the thorn on her forehead. Cardinal Poli commissioned a Neapolitan painter named Luca Giordano to paint this important scene in the life of St.Rita.

Lazzaretto (old hospital) where St. Rita worked as a volunteer to care for the sick.

Main street of Roccaporena

Square in front of the Sanctuary

View of the cliffs from the Sanctuary

Grotta d’oro (Grotto of Gold)

Santuario di Santa Rita (Sanctuary)
The Santuario was consecrated in 1948. The statue in the center is that of St. Rita.

Interior of the Sanctuary
The figures beside the crucifed Christ on the apse are those of the Blessed Mother, St. Augustine, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. John the Baptist, St. Rita and Saint Montano. These are the saints to whom St. Rita prayed for their intercession to be accepted as a nun in the Augustinian order. 

The quiet alleys of Roccaporena




Alley leading to the Scoglio di Santa Rita

Start of the trail to Scoglio di Santa Rita

Church of San Montano, 12th century
St. Rita attended masses and religious celebrations at San Montano when she lived in Roccaporena. She also went to school here and this is where she married her husband, Paolo Mancini.

Main altar of San Montano

Fresco inside San Montano

Fresco of Blessed Mother and Child inside San Montano

Grapevine on the steps leading to Orto del Miracolo (Garden of Miracle)

Trail to the Orto del Miracolo
St. Rita planted roses in her garden while living in Roccaporena. She requested for these roses from a cousin on her final days. It was winter but the cousin found roses in bloom in the snow and gave them to St. Rita. 

Trail to Orto del Miracolo

Mountain surrounding the Orto

Saint Rita of Cascia
Prayer to St. Rita

"O Glorious Saint Rita, patroness of those in need, your intercession with our Lord is most powerful. Through the favors obtained by your prayers, you have been called 'Advocate of hopeless and even impossible cases.' Saint Rita, humble and pure; patient and compassionate lover of Christ Crucified! We have confidence that everyone who pray to you will find comfort and relief. Listen to our petitions and show your power with God on our behalf. Obtain our petitions for us if they are for the greater honor of God, and for our good. 


Roses found in Roccaporena
Roccaporena is a little gem. Walking around town and discovering its attractions was a delight. The tranquility was a balm. It’s a good place to sit down and enjoy the sight of the mountains and not have to do much nor be in a rush. 

How to get there from Cascia:
If you’re staying in Cascia, several of the hotels have a service to Roccaporena. If not, they can arrange for one. If you’re here on a day trip, you can take a taxi for the short ride. It will cost approximately €10 (rate in August 2025).

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Images by TravelswithCharie

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Location: Porrena, 52014 Poppi, Province of Arezzo, Italy

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