The Calvary

At the entrance to the town you can see the hill called "Calvario" with the ruins of the ancient church of Santa Maria della Luce (1650), also with Baroque forms.

The Calvario spiritually marks the environment and history of Palma. In fact, Giulio Tomasi wanted to re-propose Jesus' journey from Pilate's palace to Golgotha ​​in the local reality, connecting the inhabited center with the solitude of the Calvary hill through an itinerary marked by stations.

The Holy Duke obtained, as for pilgrims to the Holy Land, a plenary indulgence for those who had made the journey up to the hill of Calvary, where a copy of the Holy Shroud given to Carlo Tomasi, First Duke of Palma and Theatine in Rome, was kept in the church of Santa Maria della Luce, by the Infanta Maria of Savoy. This relic is now kept in the Church named “Collegio di Maria”.

The hermitage was initially inhabited by the Romiti priests and later by the order of the Mercedarians, in charge of the ransom of the Christian prisoners of the pirates.

Furthermore, due to its mighty structure, almost like a fortress and its dominant position, it served as a privileged point for observing the wide valley of the Palma river and the coast.