An ancient church in Italy has become a popular tourist attraction due to the presence of a crocodile that has been hanging from the ceiling for over 500 years.
Santuario Della Beata Vergine Maria Delle Grazie is a famous historic church located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is well-known for a rather surprising reason.
Many curious visitors flock here to admire and learn about why there has been a crocodile dangling from the ceiling of this church for more than 500 years.
The crocodile has been hanging from the church ceiling for over 500 years (Photo: Odd).
How did a crocodile come to be in a church? This question remains unanswered, but its presence is linked to religious symbolism.
In ancient times, Christianity associated creatures like snakes and crocodiles with evil. These beings were viewed as embodiments of the devil or simply as animals that led humans into sin.
Thus, the act of chaining a crocodile to the church ceiling is seen as a warning to the congregation, while also symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
According to various records, this is the mummified remains of a Nile crocodile believed to be at least 500 years old. Meanwhile, the church Santuario Della Beata Vergine Maria Delle Grazie has existed since the 13th century.
Over the years, numerous legends have circulated about the origin of this creature throughout the Lombardy region. One theory suggests that the crocodile escaped from a private zoo on the estate of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga.
Interior architecture of the church dating back to the 13th century (Photo: Trip).
No matter how the legends are spun, the crocodile hanging from the ceiling is becoming a unique tourist attraction. Some visitors have even remarked that “this is quite bizarre.”
It is noteworthy that this is not the only church in Italy that displays the remains of a real crocodile. Santa Maria delle Vergini Church in Macerata and Santuario della Madonna delle Lacrime in Ponte Nossa are also places that house unique crocodiles.
