During the Byzantine period, from the eighth century, oriental monasticism first started to appear in Calabria and within a short time the region was teeming with hermitages and monasteries.  The monks, commonly known as Basilians, came to these lands bringing icons and relics as well as their devotion towards the Oriental saints.  The saints venerated in the Vatican district are almost all of Oriental origin.

The little sanctuary which stands on the beach of Santa Maria is dedicated to Santa Maria Lauretana. This cult area dates back to the sixteenth century,  but the present structure was built at the beginning of the nineteenth century with the materials which the inhabitants of Ricadi had saved from the destruction of a fort  built by the French during the ten years of their domination (1804-1814). The entire population of Ricadi and the neighbouring villages visit this sanctuary on Easter Monday to celebrate “Galilea”.