The apparition occurred on the site of an abandoned quarry where Saint Paul was allegedly martyred by decapitation.
The visionary, Bruno Cornacchiola, was originally planning to write a pamphlet against the Catholic Church's dogma of the Immaculate Conception immediately before the encounter.
Pope Pius XII reportedly blessed the statue of the Virgin of the Revelation that now resides within the grotto.
The site was officially recognized by the Diocese of Rome as a place of worship in the late 1990s.
The grotto contains the original stone wall where the apparition reportedly left marks during the manifestation.
The complex is located along the Via Laurentina, an ancient Roman road connecting the city to the coast.
The Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Revelation marks the site where Bruno Cornacchiola, an anti-clerical tram conductor, claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary on April 12, 1947. The sanctuary is situated within the historic Tre Fontane Abbey complex, the site traditionally associated with the martyrdom of Saint Paul the Apostle. The grotto itself is a humble cavity carved into the tufa rock, now enclosed by a chapel structure that serves as a site of pilgrimage. The site is managed by the Missionaries of the Divine Revelation and is distinct from the nearby Trappist monastery grounds. It attracts pilgrims seeking connection to the 20th-century Marian apparition. The surrounding area preserves the quiet, wooded atmosphere of the Roman countryside far from the urban center.
The exterior entrance path provides the best perspective of the grotto's integration into the tufa cliffside.
Combine your visit with a walk through the adjacent Tre Fontane Abbey grounds to view the three historic churches.
Carry a water bottle, as the site is located in a green area with fewer commercial amenities than the city center.
Check the sanctuary website for the liturgical calendar, as specific holy days draw larger crowds of pilgrims.
Confusing the sanctuary with the nearby Abbey of the Three Fountains, which serves as a separate religious site.
The sanctuary is accessible daily, but the grotto interior may close briefly for private liturgical services.
Maintain silence, dress modestly covering shoulders and knees, and refrain from photography inside the grotto chapel.
