Difficult to write a review for a place that was in the beginning inspirational and left me feeling repulsed at the end. Outstanding preservation of a holy site and a dedication to a man who did without, served the poor and encouraged a minimalist lifestyle. The grounds were lovely on this sunny February day and not a site to miss in Paola, even as a non catholic I found it an inspiration. That was until we reached the grotesque, modern part of the grounds. I couldn’t help thinking how distressed San Francesco of Paola might be to see something so ostentatious and expensive built in his name when that money could have been better spent serving the poor. Weren’t 18 churches in Paola enough?? Skip The New Building

We visited both the original and the new cathedral on a sunny October day. Grounds were lovely, a waterfall and pathway along the stream is very serene. Silence is required in the old cathedral as it is a holy shrine to the Catholic world. Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the unexploded bomb on display outside the sanctuary; it had been dropped by the Allies on the cathedral where villagers were hiding for safety. They attribute the miracle to the protection of their Saint Francesco di Paola. The cathedral was targeted because it was believed that the Fascist Party Secretary was hiding there.