Religious emotion, joined with a singular devotion to the Blessed Virgin and certain saints, impelled the faithful of Calitri (like those of so many other towns) to set out on various pilgrimages at established times of the year.

Calitrians usually went on pilgrimages to St. Michael in Monticchio, to the Incoronata of Foggia (returning from which, the pilgrims circled several times around the church of St. Michael, as a symbol of thanksgiving), to Monte Sant’Angelo (also in Puglia), to Materdomini in Caposele, and sometimes also to Montevergine, as well as to the Madonna della Foresta, a few chilometers outside town, to the Incoronata of Sant’Andrea di Conza, to Santa Maria dei Santi, to the Stella Mattutina (in the Mattinella district of Andretta), and to the Madonna of Monte Castello (in the Morra De Sanctis countryside).

In order to reach those places designated for penance and reconciliation with God—as the sanctuaries were considered—the pilgrims often had to endure unspeakable sacrifices and exhausting travel on foot, which could last several days.

However, ignoring their physical exertion, they climbed over mountains, crossed streams, trekked on dusty and sun burnt trails.