The Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Elcina rises on a rocky hill not far from the historical center of the village. The church in local stone, in its current appearance, is of recent construction but of ancient foundation and has a significant historical, artistic and religious value for the entire valley.
Tradition has it that one day two dumb shepherds of Abbateggio, grazing their sheep on the hill of Elcina, saw on a tree of elce (holm oak) a Lady and, at the foot of the tree, a painting that represented the Madonna sitting on a tree with the baby Jesus in her arms. The Lady told the shepherd children that she wanted a church on that hill, repeating the same request three times. The church, rebuilt in 1927 on the old building, has a facade of stone blocks with a portal closed by artistic stained glass with wrought iron motif restored. The perimeter walls are of medieval origin. The interior with three naves has neoclassical features; altars, niches and statues are leaning against the side walls. On the high altar there is the statue of the Madonna in painted terracotta (work of the 15th century); under the altar there is a trunk of elk that is remembered as the rest of the ancient tree on which the Virgin appeared.
