VIVA - New Active Tourism Itineraries in Villanova

The rock shrine is dedicated to Saint Lussorio, paganissimus apparitor stationed in Carales who after approaching Christianity and being baptised, was denounced to Delfius, the praeses (leader). He invited him to reject the new faith in order to be reconverted back to paganism. Lussorio refused, and so he was taken to prison where he met and converted Cesello and Camerino, sentenced to death with him and traditionally referred to as his fellow martyrs. The remains of the martyr were left in a cemetery outside Forum Traiani, Fordongianus today. In this place, where the martyr was beheaded, is a semi underground place of worship named after him. According to tradition, the martyr Lussorio spent a period of his life as a hermit also in the shrine currently dedicated to him in the territory of Romana, set in a natural cave.

The site is today the result of restoration works carried out in subsequent periods which have partially modified its appearance. In fact, today the shrine is accessible via a five-arched portico; among the arcades, four are bricked-up, buttressed and topped by a bell gable built during the seventeenth century.

The interior is clear evidence of human intervention aimed to adapt a natural cavity to a place of worship. The space is covered by a low and uneven barrel vault. On the left wall of the entrance is a pulpit, while on the back wall is the area of the presbytery where it is possible to see four statues placed in lithic niches, above the altar table. These are the representation of San Lussorio, in military clothes, with fellow martyrs Cesello and Camerino, and a fourth statue forever depicting the martyr protector of the shrine in episcopal robes. A narrow opening at the side of the presbytery leads to a back room, characterised by two niches, perhaps serving as apse.