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A centuries-old stuffed crocodile hangs from the ceiling of this medieval chapel.
While Italy has hundreds of ancient churches, only a few feature the kind of wonder that makes Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie stand out. Inside the sanctuary of this church located in the Province of Mantua, visitors will find a large taxidermied crocodile hanging from the ceiling just beyond the main entrance. There are several other churches in the region that features crocodiles. It is believed that many early Christians viewed animals such as crocodiles as symbols of evil. By hanging them from the ceiling, their evil intentions were no longer harmful, it was also a symbolic meaning for church-goers.
