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Manoppello (sometimes spelled Manopello) is a comune in Abruzzo, in the province of Pescara, Italy. It has a population of about 6,000 [157 in the town only].
GPS coordinates: 40°15'00.68"N 14°03'42.73"E elevation: 217 meters The sanctuary is about 1 kilometer away from the centre of Manoppello. Reaching it via highway from Rome will take about 3 hours, and from Pescara about 1 hour.
After taking the exit from the highway the road becomes narrow and winding, and the area – hilly. Before the highway was constructed, it had been one of the most inaccesible areas of Italy. These days it is a stopover for the pilgrims heading for Rome, but in the evening one can admire the relic in solitude.
Twice a year (the third Sunday of May and 6th August) the image of Christ's face is carried in a solemn procession through the streets of Manoppello. First, during the day, it takes a route from the sanctuary to the nearby towns and back, and then, just before dusk, it follows a shorter route down the hill and back.
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