Sanctuary of San Gerardo

Outside Piedimonte Etneo is a small church with an interesting history. The church dedicated to San Gerardo Maiella is a newer one by Italian standards, dedicated in 1931. The history according to the local lore is that a woman lived in a humble house in this country hamlet and suffered from hemorraging. She was finally able to conceive and have a baby, but the child was afflicted with constant fever and the woman was consumed with anxiety. While sweeping her floor one day she found the image of San Gerardo Maiella imprinted there, and asked who the young saint was, then immediately prayed to him asking for her son to be healed. The prayer was granted and the child recovered, and the woman, who was not wealthy but a poor country farmer, began to take up a collection. Enough funds were raised to built the church, and pilgrims began to come. The country hamlet was renamed San Gerardo.

The church was elevated to sanctuary status (santuario) iin 2000. The image of the saint is displayed in a case, and continues to draw faithful pilgrims, especially during the feast days and holy days. There is a festival the last Sunday of August, and on San Gerardo's saint day, October 16.