Cascia

Cascia is a town in the Valnerina area of Umbria (province of Perugia), best known as the home of Saint Rita of Cascia, a 15th-century Augustinian nun venerated as the patron saint of impossible causes. The Basilica di Santa Rita, built in the 20th century, and the adjoining older monastery are a major pilgrimage destination, drawing visitors from across Italy and abroad. The area was hit by the powerful central-Italy earthquake sequence of 2016, which damaged the facade of the sanctuary church and affected other historic buildings in the town; the region's cultural sites underwent post-earthquake restoration in the years after.