Santuario della Scala Santa

On your journey through Abruzzo, a must-see destination is the Sanctuary that houses the Scala Santa in Campli (TE), a precious spiritual treasure located next to the 14th-century Chiesa di San Paolo, behind Palazzo Farnese. Consecrated in 1772 by Pope Clement XIV, this staircase – one of the few “Holy Stairs” outside Rome – offers a unique opportunity for reflection and inner contemplation.

The twenty-eight polished wooden steps are traditionally climbed on one’s knees as an act of penance. At the base stands a remarkable 16th-century portal from the convent of Sant’Onofrio, exquisitely carved in diamond-point patterns. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of generations of pilgrims, praying or simply reflecting, while admiring the stunning frescoes decorating the ceiling and walls. The ceiling depicts angels carrying the instruments of the Passion, while the walls feature scenes such as “Christ in the Garden of Olives,” “The Flagellation,” and “Christ Carrying the Cross” on the right, and “The Arrest,” “Ecce Homo,” and “The Crucifixion” on the left. The ceiling decoration and several wall frescoes are attributed to the painter Vincenzo Baldati.

Baldati, from Teramo, also painted the “Christ Pantocrator,” inspired by Byzantine models, which decorates the chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum – the spiritual heart of the Sanctuary and the final destination of the penitential climb. Inside, in elegant Neapolitan-style reliquaries and surrounded by statues of the Dead Christ and the Sorrowful Mother, you will find fragments of the True Cross and other sacred relics. On the landing of the Sancta Sanctorum are the effigies of Pope Clement XIV and Saint Helena.

The journey of spiritual purification concludes with a staircase leading back down, adorned with medallions depicting scenes of Christ’s Resurrection.

During Holy Week, the Scala Santa becomes a centre of devotion, drawing worshippers and visitors alike and creating an atmosphere of profound spirituality.

Ph credit: Tourist photographic archive of the Abruzzo Region