San Pietro in Bevagna

The origin of San Pietro in Bevagna is closely tied to the history of the apostle St. Peter. The legend, in fact, said that during a sea voyage, caught in a bad storm St. Peter was wrecked on the Ionian coast of the locality, specifically, where now stands the beautiful church in the town center. Tired and hungry walking around, he past a well of fresh water near which stood a statue of a pagan god (was supposed to be Zeus). Viewing the sculpture St. Peter made the sign of the cross in front of his chest and, with that gesture, the statue shattered and fell at his feet. Witnessing the miracle, people began to convert to Christianity.

Shortly after St. Peter continued his journey and the village began to be increasingly be populated by people coming from afar to visit the holy place where the Apostle had performed the miracle. The church (Chiesa Rupestre o Cripta del Redentore) which still lies at the center of the village has a mystical beauty which can be viewed at any time. Symbol of the village is the church dedicated to St. Peter, who leans to the medieval tower. Also on the seabed near the beach of S. Pietro in Bevagna there are several sarcophagi of various sizes. They are the remains of the cargo of a Roman ship sunken there in the third century A.D.