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Shrine of St May of the Gate: the chapel on the mountain pass of ancient Trebani
Along hiking trail 692c in the Monti Simbruini Natural Park, in a forest skirting the river Aniene and cutting through Mount Malemitto, one comes across a brick arch. It is the shrine (aedicula) of Santa Maria della Portella, located at the mountain pass that for centuries served as the sole route to gain access to the village of Trevi nel Lazio. Once a stronghold of the Aequi, it later became Treba Augusta during the Roman era, and one of the primary settlements in the Aniene Valley.
The trail to the Portella
The route begins at San Teodoro Bridge, a Roman bridge that has withstood the floods of the Aniene and remains in use today. From here, the path ascends the ridge of Mount Malemitto along a mule track. For centuries it was traversed by shepherds, pilgrims, and monks. Today, it forms part of the Way of St Benedict.
The image, tradition, and the laburnum
The shrine originated as an extension of a pre-existing Marian icon. The original image, identical to that in the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Repose, was eventually replaced by a terracotta statue, which has weathered badly over time. A destination for pilgrimages, particularly in May, the shrine is traditionally adorned with flowering laburnum branches gathered along the path, a custom that has been repeated for centuries.
