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Cappella di Santa Maria Assunta Macchia Valfortore

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The chapel of Madonna Assunta, or 'cappella a llong' in Macchiarolo dialect, built in the 18th century, stands on a high hill, from where a good part of the Fortore valley can be admired. Some anecdotes are linked to the small rock church: The first one wants that due to its position it is considered one of the seven sisters (churches that can be seen from each other and the seventh sees Rome and therefore St. Peter).

The chapel of Madonna Assunta, or 'cappella a llong' in Macchiarolo dialect, built in the 18th century, stands on a high hill, from where a good part of the Fortore valley can be admired.
Some anecdotes are linked to the small rock church: The first one wants that due to its position it is considered one of the seven sisters (churches that can be seen from each other and the seventh sees Rome and therefore St. Peter).
The second tells of an event in the early 20th century: a young shepherd from Macchia Valfortore first broke down the door of the chapel and then, with a knife, gouged out the eyes of the statue of the Madonna in order to sell them. A few days later he met another young shepherd, the two challenged each other in a competition, and the first climbed a high-tension pylon to catch a bird's nest, but when he reached the top he was decapitated by the current cable.
The third is set during the Second World War: a Protestant family from Sant'Elia a Pianisi plundered the chapel on the pretext of the Germans requisitioning bronze. As a result of this act, the father and all his sons who took part in the looting died of throat cancer.

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